Pink Ladies
Driving by Harcourt at the start of our trip, I stopped at a fruit shop to pick up some Jonathan apples. Yum! Unfortunately, I didn’t see any for the rest of our trip.
However, after Rob met up with us in Perth, we visited the Fremantle Markets, and he introduced me to Pink Lady apples. These will do nicely to keep me happy outside of Jonathan season.
According to Orange Pippin, the Pink Lady is a modern apple, that comes from Australia, and is a cross between Golden Delicious and Lady Williams. The very long storage life means they are available almost all year round from northern or southern hemisphere orchards. Slightly more acidic than Golden Delicious, Pink Lady is also a fairly juicy apple, and the texture is solid and bites cleanly.
Orange Pippin prefers Jazz apples, which I’ve never heard of, but which get a good write up from a commenter:
When I think of apples, I think of childhood, orchards and tradition. Jonathan apples are what an apple should taste like and also a standard by which all other apples should be judged. For me, nothing beat a Jonathan… until Jazz. Long shelf and pocket life, outstanding flavour, crisp, juicy, aromatic, great name. I’ve been an apple lover for a long time. I would always try a new apple and say, “I’m not impressed…” until Jazz. Also the flavour of Jazz beats tradition; something I thought I would never say.
Will have to investigate!
By Alex McHugh, 7 hours, 28 minutes after the fact
You mention the Jazz variety which I found in the local upmarket supermarket a while back. I found them nice, but not so much to rave about. It could have been the growing climate - France, or just the supermarket imposed flavour destruction via cold storage and shipping , I bought them because I miss the quality Braeburns from back home.
By David Golding, 3 days, 4 hours after the fact
I remembered Braeburn being not that nice, but I picked one up at the supermarket today. It was fresh and crisp and juicy—and delicious. Orange Pippin says Braeburn apples have quality control issues, which may explain my previous thoughts about them.
By Richard, 3 days, 20 hours after the fact
I love Braeburns the most, but can’t find them at Paddy’s Markets since I’ve started shopping there. So I’ve gone back to Pink Ladies. These are fantastic crisp, juicy and delicious; I get that awesome satisfaction from a good bite and at 2/3 the price.