What are the varieties of apples?
As one of the fruits with the highest global consumption, apples are deeply loved for their rich nutritional value and diverse flavors. From the sweet and sour early-maturing varieties to the crisp and juicy late-maturing types, different apple varieties have their own characteristics in terms of shape, color, and taste. This article will systematically sort out the mainstream apple varieties at home and abroad, and especially recommend ten representative high-quality varieties.
Apple variety classification system
Global distribution overview of apple varieties
There are more than 7,500 cultivated apple varieties worldwide, mainly distributed in temperate regions. As the world's largest apple-producing country, China mainly cultivates varieties such as the Fuji series, the元帅 series, and加拉, among which Hongfuji accounts for 65%. Different varieties have significant differences in terms of maturity, disease resistance, and storage.
Detailed introduction to the top ten high-quality apple varieties
1. Australian Green Apple | Sour and Crisp Representative
An original variety from Australia with a green skin as smooth as jade, with an acidity as high as 0.9% and twice the vitamin C content of ordinary apples. The "Jade Green Apple" cultivated in the Weibei Plateau of Shaanxi Province through bagging technology has delicate and渣-free flesh, especially suitable for salads and baking.
2. Red Fuji | Crisp and Sweet Champion
A late-maturing variety bred in Japan, with fruit sugar content reaching over 16°Brix in the Yantai, Shandong production area. The flesh is dense with a honey-like aroma, and its texture is even better after cold storage, accounting for half of the total apple production in China.
3. Wanglin Apple | Fresh and Aromatic Model
A yellow-green variety specializing in Aomori Prefecture, Japan, with star-shaped dots covering the skin. The flesh is creamy white and translucent, combining the fresh aroma of pears and the sweet taste of muskmelons, with a single fruit weight of about 300 grams, representing high-end gift fruit.
4. Snake Apple | Festival Star
An improved variety of the American Red元帅, the snake apple planted at an altitude of 1,500 meters in the Tianshui, Gansu production area has a tall and obvious five-ridged shape, with a coloring rate of over 85%, especially suitable for festival scenarios such as Christmas.
5. Gala Apple | Early Maturing Preferred
A mid-early maturing variety bred in New Zealand, the Gala apples launched in Tongchuan, Shaanxi in August have a skin with red and yellow patches, fine and crisp flesh with a slight acidity, and a shelf life of up to 20 days, making them the first choice for autumn delicacies.
6-10. Special Variety Group
Including varieties such as Tsugaru (juicy), Wangguang (durable for storage), Golden Delicious (soft and glutinous), Sansa (sweet), and Jonagold (balanced sweet and sour), forming a maturity梯队 from September to December to meet different consumer needs.
In terms of cultivation characteristics, Red Fuji requires more than 1,200 hours of cold, making it suitable for planting in the north; while the Australian Green Apple can only fully show its color in areas with a day and night temperature difference of over 8 degrees Celsius. It is recommended for consumers to choose based on taste preferences: choose Red Fuji for sweetness, green apples for acidity, and try Wanglin for aroma.