Did you know that there are different kinds of apple fruit? For example, some people like to eat baked fruits such as apple sauce or pie whereas others prefer their desserts fresh off the tree.
Fruit can be an awesome snack if it’s cooked right but maybe not so much when raw!
There are about 7,500 varieties of apples today! No one on earth can boast of tasting every type of apple. About 2,500 varieties are grown in the United Kingdom.
To put things in perspective, a person living in the UK can eat a different kind of apple every day for the next 6 years!
Sadly, in the British market, just two kinds of apples are commonly available in the supermarket. The two common types are the Gala and Braeburn.
They dominate the British market. If you want to savor the taste of different varieties, build an orchard and grow your own apples or find local farmers near me.
This article is a guide to the different apple varieties. We look at the common apple varieties we have and what they are most useful for.
But first, a brief look at the history of the apple.
A Brief History of Apple Fruit
An apple is a sort of fruit with a rich history and evolution. We can trace the origin back to Kazakhstan, a country in Central Asia. The literal translation of the country’s capital, Alma Ata, means “full of apples.”
Apple seeds found their way to Europe about 1500 BC. The Romans and the Greeks were among the first groups of people to cultivate the fruit in Europe.
Furthermore, European colonists were the ones to transport apples to North America. William Blaxton was the first man to plant an apple orchard on the continent in 1625.
Apples have continued to grow in popularity from the early days till now. The apples we have today combine the qualities of the past and present.
10 Popular Apple Varieties
October is here already, a time of the year when apples are ripe for harvesting. Varieties of them grow in the UK, however, the apples grown commercially in the country are either for making cider, dessert, or cooking.
Here are the popular apple sorts:
1. Golden Delicious
Golden Delicious apples can sometimes be golden yellow or pale green with a lot of spots.
They have conical shapes, and their taste depends on where they are grown. If cultivated in temperate areas, there is little acid content. However, if grown in cold regions, they would contain a high acid content.
Geographical location has a big impact on this variety of apple. You would certainly get a sweeter flavour in cold areas than in warm areas.
Availability: It’s grown in most regions of the world and it’s available from late summer to fall.
How to enjoy it: However you want it. You can make a salad with it or enjoy it as a dessert.
2. Gala Apple
One of the few popular apples that are available all year round. It has a vanilla taste, and it’s a bit smaller than the average apple.
It has a stripy red colour on the outside while having a light yellow colour on the inside. An orchardist, J.H. Kidd, from New Zealand, was the first person to discover them.
Availability: It’s available all year round as they have an early harvest date.
How to enjoy it: Since they are smaller than regular apples, they make great snacks. You might also bake it or make it into a salad.
3. Granny Smith Apple
Apple lovers can recognise this variety from afar due to its bright green color. Of all the green varieties of apples, they are the most popular. It has juicy flesh with a slightly acidic taste. Furthermore, you can store it for 3 months without losing its taste.
Unlike other apples, Granny Smith apples need a lot more sun and warmth to grow. The more you store them, the sweeter they become.
Availability: This firm, crispy, and juicy apple is available all year!
How to enjoy it: It’s safe to call it an all-rounder. You can eat it raw, make juice with it, bake it, or make it as a salad. It tastes better if you combine it with nut butter.
4. Fuji Apple
We have the Japanese to thank for being the first people to grow this variety of apple. It can come in different colours, but crimson and pink seem to be the most common. It’s one of the sweetest varieties of apples. The combination of two American varieties (Red Delicious and Ralls Janet) gives rise to it.
Availability: It is often available from October to June in the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and Germany.
How to enjoy it: Eat it raw, bake it into a pie, or cut it into salads.
5. Braeburn Apple
One of the most popular apple varieties in the United Kingdom, as you’d likely find it in any supermarket you walk into. You can easily identify it by observing its perfect mixture of red and green.
Growing conditions have a lot of impact on their quality. They also thrive in warmer climates than in cold ones. It’s one of the favourite apples of commercial apple farmers due to its ability to resist diseases.
Availability: Only suitable for warmer climates. It is available around November. After harvesting or picking them from an orchard, you can store them for 3 months or more before consuming it.
How to enjoy it: It is best eaten raw, not too good for cooking or baking.
6. Pink Lady Apple
This kind of apple is the first to bloom during the planting season but the last to be harvested. Their reddish-pink blush colour sets them apart from other varieties of apples. The sugar-to-acid ratio gives it a sweet-tart taste.
Pink Lady apples come about by crossing the Lady William variety with Golden Delicious. They thrive in relatively warm climates.
Availability: They become available from early to mid-October through July. To keep this fruit fresh, don’t wash it before storing it in the fridge.
How to enjoy it: You can eat it raw, but becomes tastier if chilled. It’s also an excellent cooking and baking recipe.
7. Bramley
Hands down, one of the sourest apples you’d ever find around. They are more suitable for cooking due to their strong acidic content. It is commercially grown in the UK, with close to 50,000 tonnes harvested each year.
A Bramley apple is easy to identify from afar; it has a green colour with some red patches. It’s best grown in cold climates.
Availability: The availability is subject to weather conditions from year to year. They typically become available for pick up around September through October.
How to enjoy it: Cooking is the best way to enjoy this variety of apple. Cooking helps to reduce its acid content. It goes well with pies and dessert dishes.
8. Jazz Apple
This sort of apple was first grown in New Zealand. It came about after cross-breeding the Gala variety with Braeburn. The outward appearance has a reddish colour with some patches of green.
One of the few apples available throughout the year as it is grown in almost every part of the globe. The flesh is crispy and it has a buttery taste, similar to that of a pear.
Availability: They are available all year round. They grow without problems in both the southern and northern hemispheres.
How to enjoy it: This apple variety is suitable for snacking due to its hard and crispy nature. It’s perfect for baking as well.
9. Empire Apple
This type of apple has a bright white flesh and is quite crunchy. The first set was produced at Cornell University in the 1940s under a hybrid program. Golden Delicious was crossed with McIntosh to produce it.
It has a maroon-red colour with a green background. Unlike other varieties, they can only be stored for a short period of time. It’s one of the most popular apple varieties in the United States but is not locally grown in England.
Availability: The best time to pick them up is September through October. However, you can store them until January under the right conditions.
How to enjoy it: Eat directly from the tree or after picking it up. It is also suitable for making sauce and apple juice.
10. Spartan Apple
This type of apple is common among children due to its small size. It is widely grown in many parts of the United Kingdom. It’s easy to cultivate and they are resistant to diseases common to apples.
Furthermore, many apple juice makers prefer using this variety as a key ingredient because of its succulent and juicy flesh. Another interesting fact is that it is one of the few apples that can thrive in both the U.S. and the UK.
Availability: They become available for pickup in early to mid-October. Moreover, they also have a long shelf life, which means you can store them for a long time.
How to enjoy it: Best eaten fresh, it becomes a bit more delicious after storage. It’s also excellent for pies and juice.
Did you know there are over 7,500 types of apples? Most people think of red and green apples when they hear the word apple. However, did you know that there are yellow and even blue apples?
Different kinds of apples can be better for different purposes.
For example, some people like to eat baked fruits such as apple sauce or pie whereas others prefer their desserts fresh off the tree.
If you’re craving for apples find apple farms near me and pick your own or have them delivered.