5 New Apples to Try This Fall
The first chilly days of fall carry a whole lot of excitement around apples — whether you’re picking your own or gathering them at the farmers market — yet after you’ve snacked on and baked with your first bushel, fruit fatigue can set in. You reach a point later in the season when you just can’t look at another McIntosh or Honeycrisp. Luckily you don’t have to, since there are well over a hundred varieties of commercially grown apples to try. If you’re looking for a new variety to test out, try one these.
1. Stayman Winesap
This heirloom variety has a deep ruby color and a faintly cinnamon smell. Add to that a crisp flesh that tastes almost wine-like and you have one sophisticated apple.
2. Baldwin
For a long time, Baldwin was one of the most popular varieties, until a freeze wiped out the crop in the mid 1930s. Now it’s back in business, thanks to a handful of farmers. It has red- and green-speckled skin and is extra juicy and almost creamy on the inside.
3. SnapDragon
One of the newest apple varieties on the market, SnapDragons were only just introduced to consumers in 2013. Consider it the new Honeycrisp: it’s as crunchy as the more popular apple, but perhaps even sweeter, with a little spice too.
4. Gravenstein
Another heirloom, Gravenstein is grown almost exclusively in Sonoma County, CA, where they host an annual festival for the variety. It you taste one, you’ll understand why — its flavor is honey-like but balanced with just the right amount of tartness.
5. GoldRush
If you’re always disappointed with Golden Delicious apples, then give this one a try. While it’s related to Golden Delicious, it has a tangy, complex flavor that’s more akin to a Granny Smith, but it has just enough sweetness to make it even more of a crowdpleaser.