The complete apple varieties guide.
There are more than 2,500 apple varieties grown in the United States. Here are the ones you are most likely to see at a U-Pick orchard, with taste notes, ripening windows, and what each one is best for.
Ambrosia
Imagine biting into pure sunshine: the Ambrosia apple offers a wonderfully sweet, honeyed flavor with virtually no tartness, making it incredibly approachable. Its aroma is subtly floral and tropical, hinting at notes of pear and even a touch of lychee, contributing to its universally pleasing character.
Arkansas Black
When first picked, the Arkansas Black offers a spirited tartness, a lively zing that dances on the palate. As it mellows in storage, the tartness softens, giving way to more complex, nuanced flavors, often described as spicy with hints of cherry, honey, and even nuts, culminating in a refined sweetness.
Baldwin
The Baldwin apple delivers a delightful balance, offering a crisp, subacid yet sweet flavor. Its complex aromatic profile includes hints of spice, making for a truly satisfying bite.
Belle de Boskoop
The Belle de Boskoop apple offers a complex flavor profile that is primarily tart and robust, often described as having a wine-like quality with notes of citrus and spice. Its acidity is balanced by a subtle sweetness that emerges during cooking, making it exceptionally flavorful.
Braeburn
The Braeburn delivers a vibrant, complex flavor profile that perfectly balances sweetness and tartness. Its juicy flesh offers notes of pear and a hint of spice, creating a refreshing and memorable eating experience that awakens the palate with each bite.
Bramley
Bramley apples offer a famously tart and intensely acidic flavor, ideal for cooking. Expect a true 'apple' taste that mellows wonderfully when baked, becoming lighter and more nuanced, without too much sweetness directly from the fruit itself.
Cameo
The Cameo apple offers a delightful balance of sweet and tart, with a refreshing acidity that brightens each bite. Its aroma is subtly complex, a hint of honey and citrus mingling with classic apple notes, making for a truly enjoyable sensory experience.
Cortland
The Cortland apple offers a delightful balance of sweet and tangy flavors, with a gentle acidity that prevents it from being cloyingly sweet. Its aroma is mildly fragrant, hinting at its McIntosh parentage with a fresh, somewhat floral undertone.
Cosmic Crisp
The Cosmic Crisp delivers a vibrant sweetness that's perfectly balanced by a refreshing tartness. You'll notice bright, clean fruit flavors, often with hints of citrus and pear, culminating in a satisfying, aromatic finish.
Discovery
The Discovery apple offers a delightful balance of sweet and tart, with a crisp, juicy flesh that immediately refreshes. It has subtle hints of strawberry and a bright, aromatic fragrance that makes each bite a true pleasure.
Duchess of Oldenburg
Sweet-tart and refreshing with a bright, clean flavor that hints at citrus and berry undertones. It offers a delightfully juicy bite, making it an invigorating choice for fresh eating.
Egremont Russet
The Egremont Russet offers a sophisticated flavor profile, marked by a distinctive nuttiness often likened to walnuts or hazelnuts, underscored by subtle sweetness and a hint of pear-like fruitiness. Its rich, aromatic character makes for a truly memorable eating experience, far removed from the more overtly sweet or tart varieties.
Elstar
Elstar apples offer a delightful balance of sweet and tart, with a juicy, aromatic flavor that hints at honey and a touch of tartness. Its complex taste makes it enjoyable for fresh eating as well as in various culinary applications.
Empire
A delightful balance of sweet and tart, the Empire apple offers a refreshing, vibrant flavor. It's often described as tasting like a cross between its parents, McIntosh and Red Delicious, with a clean, slightly spicy aroma.
Enterprise
Sweet and pleasantly tart, Enterprise apples offer a balanced flavor that's both refreshing and complex. You'll detect hints of pear and citrus, with a clean finish that leaves you wanting more.
Envy
Imagine a perfect symphony of sweetness, bright and clean, with just a whisper of tartness to keep things interesting. It's profoundly juicy, delivering a refreshing burst with every bite, and has a subtle, almost floral aroma that elevates the entire experience.
Esopus Spitzenburg
Imagine a perfect symphony of sweet and spicy. This apple delivers a rich, complex sweetness layered with notes of orange citrus and warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. Its acidity is well-balanced, providing a zesty counterpoint that keeps each bite refreshing and incredibly flavorful.
EverCrisp
The EverCrisp apple boasts a remarkably balanced flavor, offering a delightful sweetness that's neither cloying nor overpowering, harmoniously intertwined with a pleasant, subtle tartness. Its aroma is delicate and inviting, hinting at pear and honey notes, ensuring a truly satisfying and refreshing bite.
Fuji
The Fuji apple offers a delightful sweetness, often described as honey-like, with a very low acidity that keeps it approachable for all palates. Its crisp texture delivers a satisfying crunch, followed by a juicy burst that complements its subtly fruity and mildly aromatic notes.
Gala
The Gala apple offers a delightful balance of sweetness with just a whisper of tartness, making it incredibly approachable for most palates. Its aroma is subtly floral and fruity, promising a refreshing bite that delivers on its sweet-tart promise with every juicy crunch.
Golden Delicious
The Golden Delicious offers a wonderfully balanced flavor profile. It's renowned for its sweet, honeyed notes, often accompanied by a subtle, almost pear-like undertone, and a very mild acidity that keeps it from being cloyingly sweet. The aroma is pleasantly fragrant, often described as sweet and fruity.
Granny Smith
The Granny Smith offers a boldly tart, invigoratingly sour flavor that wakes up the palate. Its crispness is legendary, delivering a satisfying snap with each bite, while a subtle, clean aroma hints at its refreshing acidity.
Gravenstein
Gravenstein apples offer a vibrant sweet-tart complexity, with a delightful balance of sugars and a brisk, refreshing acidity. Their aroma is captivating, often described as spicy, reminiscent of cinnamon and citrus. The flavor finishes clean and bright, leaving a pleasant zestiness on the palate.
Grimes Golden
The Grimes Golden apple offers a complex and wonderfully balanced flavor. It's often described as intensely sweet with a spicy, honeyed undertone, complemented by a refreshing tartness that prevents it from being cloyingly sugary. You might detect notes of pear, spice, and even a hint of anise, making each bite an intriguing experience.
Honeycrisp
The Honeycrisp offers a uniquely balanced flavor, a symphony of sweet and subtly tart notes that dance on the palate. Its aroma is delicate yet inviting, a fresh apple fragrance with hints of honey and pear.
Idared
A delightful balance of tart and sweet, with a pronounced tanginess that awakens the palate. It boasts a refreshing, juicy character with subtle undertones of pear and a clean, crisp finish.
Jazz
The Jazz apple offers a delightful balance of sweetness and tartness, making it incredibly refreshing. Its flavor profile includes notes of pear and a hint of citrus, complemented by a subtle honeyed aroma that adds to its crisp eating experience.
Jonagold
The Jonagold offers a delightful balance of sweet and tart, a juicy apple with a honeyed, sometimes slightly spicy, flavor profile. Its aromatic notes are complex, hinting at ripe fruit with a touch of floral essence, making each bite an invigorating experience. The acidity is present enough to keep the sweetness from being cloying, resulting in a well-rounded and satisfying taste.
Jonathan
The Jonathan apple offers a delightful balance of sweet and tart, with a crisp acidity that wakes up the palate. You'll notice bright, tangy notes alongside a pleasant underlying sweetness, making it remarkably refreshing.
Kanzi
The Kanzi offers a wonderfully balanced flavor profile, not too sweet and not too tart. Its crisp acidity brightens the palate, while hints of ripe pear and tropical fruit lend a complex, aromatic depth to each bite.
Karmijn de Sonnaville
Imagine the zesty brightness of a lemon meeting the rich, honeyed sweetness of a fine wine; that's Karmijn de Sonnaville. It's an intensely flavored apple, bursting with complex sweet and tart notes, often with hints of strawberry, orange citrus, and sometimes even a touch of nutty warmth. Each bite delivers a vibrant, almost effervescent tang that is exquisitely balanced by its underlying sugary depth, leaving a memorable, lingering finish.
Liberty
The Liberty apple offers a wonderfully balanced flavor, a harmonious blend of sweetness and a refreshing tang. You'll likely notice notes of pear and a subtle hint of spice, making for a truly satisfying and complex taste experience that lingers pleasantly on the palate.
Lodi
The Lodi apple offers a tart, almost lemon-like tang with subtle sweet undertones, making it refreshingly crisp whether eaten fresh or cooked. Its flavor intensifies beautifully when cooked, developing a bright, slightly aromatic complexity.
Macoun
The Macoun offers a delightful balance of sweet and tart, with a distinct grape-like aroma and subtle berry undertones. Its juicy flesh delivers a refreshingly crisp bite followed by a mellow, aromatic finish.
McIntosh
The McIntosh offers a delightful balance of tartness and subtle sweetness, with a distinctive vinous aroma that hints at cranberry. Its juicy, bright flavor is incredibly refreshing, especially when eaten fresh.
Mutsu
Sweet with a noticeable tangy kick, the Mutsu apple offers a complex flavor profile. It's often described as honeyed with hints of spice and citrus, making for a refreshing and satisfying bite.
Newtown Pippin
When first picked, the Newtown Pippin offers a delightful tartness with a complex, almost citrusy aroma, often hinting at pine or spice. As it mellows in storage, the acidity softens beautifully, revealing underlying notes of honey and pear, making for a perfectly balanced sweetness.
Northern Spy
The Northern Spy offers a delightful balance of sweet and tart, with a pronounced acidity that wakes up the palate. Its aroma is complex, hinting at pear and melon, making each bite a refreshingly bright experience. This crispness is beautifully complemented by a juicy, not watery, flesh.
Opal
The Opal apple delivers a delightful burst of sweetness with underlying notes of banana and pear, balanced by a gentle, refreshing tartness that keeps it from being cloyingly sweet. Its vibrant aroma is subtly floral and fruity, promising a genuinely pleasant eating experience from the first bite to the last.
Paula Red
When you bite into a Paula Red, you're greeted with a delightful tangy-sweet flavor, often with a hint of strawberry and a bright, refreshing tartness that makes your mouth water. It's a crisp and juicy apple, embodying that classic 'fresh apple' experience.
Piñata
The Piñata apple offers a delightful balance of sweet and tart, with clear notes of honey and a subtle tropical complexity. You might even catch hints of citrus or pineapple, making each bite an intriguing experience.
Pink Lady
Pink Lady apples offer a delightful balance of sweet and tart, with hints of berry and honey. Their crispness gives way to juicy flesh, leaving a clean, refreshing aftertaste that lingers pleasantly on the palate.
Red Delicious
The Red Delicious apple offers a mild, sweet flavor with very low acidity, making it a crowd-pleaser for those who prefer less tartness. Its aroma is subtle, hinting at traditional apple notes without being overly complex.
Reinette
Imagine a sophisticated apple: firm, crisp, with a complex balance of sweet and tart notes, often underscored by a subtle nuttiness and intriguing undertones that can range from citrusy to almost spicy, depending on the specific varietal. It's an apple that truly rewards a moment of mindful tasting, revealing layers of flavor.
Rome
The Rome apple offers a mild, subtly sweet flavor with low acidity, making it a crowd-pleaser that isn't overly tart. While not intensely aromatic, it possesses a pleasant, understated apple fragrance that hints at its versatility. Its flavor truly blossoms and concentrates when cooked.
Roxbury Russet
The Roxbury Russet offers a complex flavor profile, starting with a crisp, somewhat coarse bite that gives way to a balanced sweetness underpinned by a refreshing tartness. Its aroma is mildly spicy, with hints of nuts and often a whisper of pear or citrus, truly a delight for the discerning palate.
Stayman
Stayman apples offer a complex flavor that balances sweetness with a distinct, wine-like tartness. You'll often detect notes of spice and a rich, aromatic depth that makes each bite intriguing. It's a truly sophisticated apple with a lingering, pleasant acidity.
SweeTango
SweeTango apples offer a delightful burst of balanced sweetness and tangy zest, reminiscent of brown sugar and spiced apple cider. Its vibrant aroma hints at fresh melon and subtle spice, enhancing the overall eating experience.
Wealthy
When first picked, Wealthy apples offer a delightful balance of tart and sweet, with a pronounced tang that mellows into a more sugary fruitiness as it ripens. You might detect subtle notes of berries or even a hint of wine, especially when fully mature.
Winesap
Winesap apples offer a bold, complex flavor profile that's both sweet and tart, with a distinctive spicy kick reminiscent of cinnamon and cloves. Its high acidity is balanced by a rich sweetness, making for a truly memorable bite. The aroma is equally enticing, with notes of wine and spice wafting up as you bring it to your lips.
Winter Banana
The Winter Banana apple offers a mild, sweet flavor with subtle tropical undertones, often described as having a hint of a banana-like aroma, though not overpoweringly so. Its aromatic qualities are a key part of its appeal, making each bite a fragrant experience.
Wolf River
The Wolf River apple offers a mildly sweet and subtly tart flavor profile, often described as balanced and clean. It has a distinctive aroma with hints of cider, making each bite refreshing and unique.
Zestar
The Zestar apple offers a bright, sprightly flavor with a delightful sweet-tart balance. You'll notice juicy notes of brown sugar and a hint of something citrusy, making for a refreshing and memorable bite.