I know it goes without saying that we should all be eating apples, and I bet that all you ladies reading this blog are smart cookies who regulraly enjoy the health benefits of this amazing fruit. But are you stuck in a rut? Do you usually eat the same apples all the time? Granny Smiths? McIntosh? Red Delicious?

Depending on where you live, you might be familiar with some apples that other people aren’t lucky enough to experience, unless they go out of their way to find.

Yes, Granny Smiths and Galas are my reliable go-to apples. They’re available all year round it seems. But there are some that I look forward to every year, like the Honeycrisp and the Arkansa Black! I was first introduced to these babies when I briefly worked at Whole Foods Market. One of the produce guys had a real passion for his fruits and veggies and didn’t miss any opportunity to cut something up for me to try.

Honeycrisp Apple

The Honeycrisp became my instant all-time favorite apple. It’s an early-season apple, so it’s harvested between September and October, and it can get really pricy, especially if you buy organic. I have seen it up to $3.69 a pound! Don’t let that stop you, though. You can find smaller, conventional Honeycrisp at Trader Joe’s, Sprouts and even at some high-end supermarkets, so it’s up to you. I do urge you to bite into one of these crisp (as the name implies), sweet and oh-so-juicy apples!

A little background on the Honeycrisp: it was originally said to be a cross between the Macoun and Honeygold, developed by the University of Minnesota’s apple breeding program. However DNA testing recently discovered that its parents are the Keepsake and an unknow breed! Talk about drama in the apple world! It was “born” in the 1960s, but wasn’t made commercially available until the 1990’s. The University holds a patent and you need to have a business license in order to grow and sell Honeycrips apple trees! However, that patent will expire this week, which could make a difference when it comes to price and availability of these apples! They’re great for baking and in salads, and of course, my favorite way to eat them is eating straight out of the fridge (they taste best really cold, in my opinion).

Arkansas Black

The other delightful apple variety I only got to know last year is the Arkansas Black. It’s actually been around since the 1800s! This late season apple, said to be a descendant of the Winesap variety, is at its best when harvested in November and December. The later it’s harvested, the better the flavor, they say. It has a dark skin, deep red turning into almost some kind of purple, with some yellow undertones. The flesh is a creamy yellow color. It’s crisp, a little tart, somewhat sweet, but not very. It has hints of cinnamon (at least that’s what it tastes like to me).  It’s unbelievable for cider or for eating fresh (and cold, of course!).

And coming next year…. The SWEET TANGO! My god, I wish I were one of the lucky folks who has had a chance to taste a Sweet Tango this year. The University of Minnesota’s been at it again, growing this hybrid of the Honeycrisp and Zestar apples. Sweet Tango apples will be commercially available next fall! From early reviews, I have a feeling this one may knock the Honeycrisp off the top of my apple list. Check out this write up at Epicurious.com. If James Oliver Cury’s description of his Sweet Tango experience doesn’t make your mouth water, I’m disowning you!

So there you have it, ladies… Variety is indeed the spice of life, even in the world of apples. If you’ve got a favorite variety or a great apple recipe, email it or post it in the comments!

Last Modified : November 7th, 2008 Filed under : Eat Navigate : Previous post / Next post