What was an apple called during colonial times? Answer

What was an apple called during colonial times? Answer

During colonial times, the fruit was simply called an apple, but the term carried a much different connotation than it does today. While the word itself has remained constant, the fruit’s primary purpose was distinct, which often led to additional descriptors being used to specify its intended use.

The vast majority of apples grown during the colonial period were not intended for fresh eating. Instead, they were cultivated primarily for making hard cider, which was a safer and more common beverage than water. Because apple trees were often grown from seeds (as famously done by John Chapman, a.k.a. Johnny Appleseed), a wide variety of apple types emerged, many of which were small, tart, or bitter—perfect for fermentation but not very palatable raw. To specify an apple suitable for eating, colonists might have referred to it as an “eating apple” or “table apple” to differentiate it from the countless cider apples.

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