Exploring Apple Varieties: Discover the Flavors and Health Benefits of Nature's Sugar-Free Favorite Fruit

Apples are a fall favorite! Known for their nutrients and numerous health benefits, apples are the most consumed fruit in the United States. The fruit is high in fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants and they’re relatively low on the glycemic index. Eating apples can also help lower blood sugar, improve heart health, and support weight loss.

While apples taste delicious all on their own, they are also a favorite fruit to bake into pies, dip in caramel, toss atop salads, and so much more. Enjoyed cooked and raw, there are over 7,500 varieties of apples worldwide. Each type has its own unique flavor, texture, and best uses.

Here’s everything you need to know about some of the most popular and well-loved varieties of apples:

McIntosh

Discovered by John McIntosh in 1811 on his farm in Canada, these Eastern heirloom apples are juicy and sweet known for their distinctive tart flavor and white flesh. McIntosh apples have a red and green skin that is thick, tender, and easy to peel, making them an ideal choice for your stevia-sweetened applesauce, pies, and ciders. You’ll find these apples in stores September through January.

Fuji

Developed in Japan in the late 1930s by crossing two American apple varieties, Red Delicious and Ralls Janet, Fuji apples have an exceptionally sweet and crisp taste while still being low glycemic. In fact, fuji apples are one of the sweetest you can bite into, which makes them ideal for eating fresh, adding to salads, or used in sugar-free baking due to their firm texture. These apples can be quite large and often have a pink speckled flush over a yellow-green background. Fuji apples are available in stores year-round.

Gala

A popular choice and the most produced variety in the United States, Gala apples are known for their sweet, yet low on the glycemic index (low GI), mild flavor and crisp texture. Originating from New Zealand in the 1930s, Gala apples are a cross between Golden Delicious and Kidd’s Orange Red Apples. Consumers love the Gala’s floral aroma and hints of vanilla but since the variety doesn’t hold up well when baked, they are best enjoyed as snacks or in salads. Gala Apples can be found in stores all year long.

Granny Smith

Discovered in 1868 in Australia by Maria Ann Smith who propagated the cultivar from a chance seedling, Granny Smith Apples are known for their bright green skin and tart flavor. The flesh is crisp and juicy with hints of lemon and their firmness makes them an ideal choice for baking and cooking with stevia, especially in pies and tarts. Granny Smith apples are also slow to brown and available in stores year-round.

Honeycrisp

Honeycrisp apples made their debut in the 1960s. Developed at the University of Minnesota, they weren’t released to the market until the 1990s, though. These apples are known for their sweet, very juicy, and crisp texture, and are marked by a unique balance of sweetness and acidity. Honeycrisp apples are low on the glycemic index and have a light green and yellow background with a red-orange flush and are best consumed fresh. Find them in stores year-round.

Golden Delicious

Originating in West Virginia in the early 20^th century, Golden Delicious is one of the most widely grown apple varieties in the United States. These apples have a sweet, mild flavor with a hint of tartness and a honey-like, slightly spicy flavor. Known for their uniform yellow color, Golden Delicious apples are versatile and are good for everything from baking stevia-sweetened pies to topping salads. They are harvested from September to October.

Red Delicious

An Iconic symbol of American apples, Red Delicious apples are easily recognized by their deep red color. First discovered in Iowa in 1872, these apples have a mildly sweet flavor with a hint of acidity. Known for their versatility, Red Delicious apples work well as snacks or for baking with stevia and juicing. Late September to mid-October is the best time to purchase these apples for peak ripeness and flavor, but they can be found in stores all year long.

Pink Lady

Also known as Cripps Pink, Pink Lady apples were developed in Australia in the 1970s by crossing Golden Delicious and Lady Williams apples. Their distinctive pink or blush-colored skin and unique sweet-tart flavor make them a favorite choice. They’re firm and dense and extremely versatile and can be consumed as is or in a variety of sweet and savory dishes. Pink Lady apples are typically harvested in October and they are low on the glycemic index making them a healthy choice.

Empire

A popular American variety, Empire apples are a cross between the McIntosh and Red Delicious apples, combining the best of both. They were formulated at Cornell University in New York in the 1940s and landed on store shelves in 1966. Known for their attractive appearance, Empire apples have a bright white flesh and a unique sweet-tart flavor (leaning more towards the tart.) Bake, cook, or consume these low-glycemic apples fresh.

Keep our Apple guide handy during your next shopping trip. Choose apples that are firm, smooth, and heavy for their size, with no bruises or wrinkling on the skin. To keep your apples fresh longer store them in your refrigerator’s crisper.

Looking for some delicious stevia-sweetened recipes that incorporate apples? Try our Sugar-Free Apple Butter and Sugar-Free Baked Apples