Can a Honeycrisp Skeptic Learn to Love This World Famous Apple?
Show me what you've got.
It's time for the Honeycrisp Apple. The apple of apples. "The Granddaddy of Them All," as broadcaster Keith Jackson would say. Visit an apple orchard and you'll almost certainly find the biggest crowds around the Honeycrisp trees. In all my years of apple picking, I've gotten Honeycrisps maybe once–they get picked-over so quickly.
People love Honeycrisp Apples, and they're willing to pay more for them, too. Check the prices in the produce section and the Honeycrisp is most likely the most expensive apple by a decent margin. A few hot shot newcomers are challenging the Honeycrisp for it's crown, but it's still an iconic variety in the pantheon of apples.
To be perfectly honest with you, I've been a bit of a Honeycrisp hater. I'll admit it's in my nature to dislike things I believe are overpriced. With so many apple varieties available, why should I pay more for a Honeycrisp? Is it really that much better? I'm here to find out.
The Hype is Real
I won't bury the lede: this is a very good apple. It's crunchy, it's juicy, the skin is thin, the flesh has good texture, and it's got a nice balanced flavor. There's not a whole lot to dislike.
The first flavor I get is sweet, apple-y, and a tiny bit floral. Some apples, like the Jazz and Lemonade, have sweetness without flavor. You definitely know you're eating an apple and not just sugar syrup with the Honeycrisp. It's sweet but not too sweet, and when you get to be in your 30s, you appreciate that even more.
Then comes the next flavor. I'm not sure if this makes sense, but I find Honeycrisp Apples to be tangy, not tart. There's not much sourness coming through, yet I feel my cheeks pucker a bit. It's a very pleasant, subtle balance to the sweetness.
The flesh is crunchy, but surprisingly soft. Not like mushy or anything, but softer than I expected. However, if there is a weakness of the Honeycrisp, it's the skin. Yes, it's thin, but it tears more than cuts neatly, and it got stuck in my teeth. Also, some Honeycrisps are downright ugly to look at.
The Peanut Butter Test
As always, I'm testing how well apples pair with peanut butter as I'm rating them.
I'm torn on this one, to be truthful with you. Sweet and soft apples aren't the best for dipping in peanut butter, in my opinion. The Honeycrisp is certainly not the sweetest or the softest apple out there, but it's enough. It also doesn't have the extra honey flavor that saved the SugarBee Apple in this department. If PB dipping is the end-goal, I'd go for something more tart and firm.
The Final Bite
So, this has been a lot of words to say what pretty much everyone already knows: Honeycrisp Apples are good. They are indeed one of the best, but I'm still not ready to call it the best. I am very curious to try the SweeTango Apple next, which is a cross between Honeycrisp and Zestar! (the exclamation point is part of the name...).
All that being said, is the Honeycrisp worth the price at the grocery store? That I'm not as convinced about. It's an excellent apple, don't get me wrong, but there are a lot of great apples out there. Maybe I'm spoiled by living in Michigan, the second highest producer of apples in the U.S. Regardless of price, I have a better appreciate for the iconic Honeycrisp.
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