Raud Torstein

Red Torstein is the red form of the old Torstein apple, a variety with roots stretching all the way back to the 18th century. The red form entered cultivation in the 1920s and quickly became an important apple in the orchards of Hardanger.
But times change.
During the 1980s, both Torstein and Red Torstein were largely phased out in favour of newer varieties, and today it is far from a common apple in commercial production.
Red Torstein, however, never disappeared completely.
Many growers still keep it for pressing and cider, while some remain devoted to it as an eating apple too. The flavour is certainly good, although Morellmannen thinks it lacks that final bit of aroma and complexity needed to compete with our very best dessert apples.
But as a pressing apple?
That's a different story altogether.
Red Torstein has an important place in an old Hardanger blend known as GraTo – a combination of Gravenstein and Torstein. The powerful, fresh character of Gravenstein combined with Torstein produces an apple juice with a balance and personality that is extremely difficult to beat.
Just thinking about it is enough to make your mouth water.
And that is exactly why we have planted 50 new Red Torstein trees on our farm.
Not because we expect it to compete with modern apples on the supermarket shelf.
But because some old recipes are simply far too good to be allowed to disappear.
GraTo deserves to live on.

- Red form of the old Torstein apple, with roots dating back to the 18th century
- Red Torstein entered cultivation in the 1920s
- Formerly an important variety in Hardanger, largely phased out during the 1980s
- A good eating apple, although in our opinion less aromatic than the very best dessert varieties
- Excellent for pressing and cider production
- An essential part of the traditional GraTo blend – Gravenstein and Torstein
- GraTo produces a powerful, fresh and exceptionally good apple juice
- Still grown by many specifically for juice and cider
- We have planted 50 trees specifically for this purpose
- Some old recipes are simply too good to disappear