Herefordshire Redstreak is an old English hard cider apple variety which produces a bittersweet juice.
Cider produced from this variety often has a red tint and is capable of achieving a high alcohol content.
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Herefordshire Redstreak was raised from a pip by Lord Scudamore, who owned an estate in Herefordshire in the west of England, in the 17th century. It is possible that he obtained the pips from France, since he was ambassador of King Charles 1 in France from about 1634. Although Lord Scudamore lost his estate during the English Civil War, the variety continued to be known locally as Scudamore's Crab.
Redstreak quickly became a very successful and popular cider variety, on account of its both attractive red juice, and its ability to produce cider with a high alcohol content.
For about 100 years Redstreak was the pre-eminent English cider variety, but production declined rapidly towards the end of the 18th century, as cider became unfashionable. However Herefordshire Redstreak remains popular amongst modern cider enthusiasts, both for its excellent juice qualities and for its historical interest.
In 2016 DNA testing showed that Herefordshire Redstreak was identical to another traditional English cider variety called Red Foxwhelp.
