The skin is pale yellowish-green, mostly covered by bright red flushes and occasionally, pale yellow dots. Inside the apple is juicy and moderately sweet with firm, crisp, white flesh, occasionally with pink flushes in it on the side where the sun was. Some people think they detect a taste of strawberry in such pinkish areas.
It is harvested from mid-August into September. The apples can be very sour if not fully ripe with pronounced bright red flushes when harvested.
The tree needs several years of growth to start producing well.
Cooking Tips
Best used as “dessert” apples (e.g. for eating out of hand or raw in salads, etc). If cooking, bear in mind that not much of its mild taste and fragrance will survive, so perhaps serve cooked with a mild-tasting meat.
Storage Hints
Has a better storage life than many other early-harvest apples, despite some sources reporting to the contrary.
History Notes
Raised by a Mr Dummer of Blacksmiths Corner, Langham, Essex, England around 1949. A cross between Worcester Pearmain and (possibly) Beauty of Bath apples.
A nurseryman Jack Matthews from Thurston, Suffolk bought grafts from Dummer. Matthews called it “Thurston August”, to emphasize the early harvest provided by this variety. In 1962, it was renamed to Discovery. Introduced to the public around 1962 / 1963. By the 1970s, it had become commercially important.