Apples 101 – About Envy Apples
Origin
Envy apples were developed in New Zealand by natural plant breeding methods (with no genetic modification) used to produce a fruit with desirable traits. Developers focused on appearance, flavor, and longevity. They are a cross between Braeburn and Royal Gala apples. Envy apples were first released for sale in 2009 with a projected production of 2 million cartons by 2020.
Envy apples are grown using a method introduced in New Zealand in 1996, where environmental concerns are taken into account. Only pesticides and fungicides based on the need at the time are applied to the tree, and nothing more. Most of New Zealand’s apples are grown using this method. If you’re concerned about chemicals on your apples, know that apples grown in this way have no more chemicals on them than what was needed to produce a quality product.
Currently Envy apples are grown in New Zealand, Australia, Chile, and the United States in the state of Washington. Field tests are being done in the UK, France, and Italy in hopes of expanding production. They are available almost year-round from sources in New Zealand, Chile, and the United States.
Envy apples are sweet and slow to oxidize or turn brown, which makes them excellent apples for eating fresh. Because of their parentage, Envy apples are considered to be similar to Gala, Braeburn, Jazz, Pacific Rose, and Telstar apples.
Nutrition Facts
The nutritional aspects of Envy apples would be roughly equivalent to that of other sweet apples. One apple has about 95 calories. They are high in Vitamin C and fiber. They also supply potassium, Vitamin B6, Vitamin K, manganese, riboflavin, copper, phosphorus, magnesium, thiamin, Vitamin A and Vitamin E. It is worth noting that a lot of the nutrients found in apples are in the skin. So, eat the peel, if possible.
Envy apples also contain quercetin, a flavonoid that gives apples their color. Quercetin is also an antioxidant known to combat free radical damage and inflammation that is linked to cancer, heart disease, degenerative brain disorders, and other chronic diseases.
Characteristics of Envy Apples
Appearance. Envy apples are round with red skin that has some yellow to green striations or streaks, with specks throughout the skin. The flesh is pale yellow and is very slow to oxidize, taking up to 10 hours to begin to turn brown. This quality makes Envy apples an excellent choice for eating fresh in salads or served on appetizer trays.
Flavor and Texture. The pale-yellow flesh is crisp and sweet with a hint of tartness. The flavor has been described like that of a gourmet Asian pear, with floral and vanilla notes. The skin is thick and tougher than other apples. Also, the skin has what are known as lenticels, or small pores, that allow gases to exchange between the skin and flesh of the fruit. The lenticels appear as specks on the skin of the fruit. The more specks, the sweeter the fruit. So, if you want a sweet apple, select an Envy apple with a lot of specks on the skin!
In 2019, Envy apples were compared with other apples including Honeycrisp, Fuji, Gala, and Cosmic Crisp apples in a research study conducted in New York with 142 participants. Envy apples were ranked in first place for their flavor, texture, aroma, and appearance.
Storage/Shelf-Life. When kept refrigerated, Envy apples should have a long storage life. How long will depend on the apple’s age when it was purchased. Apples store best in very cold and somewhat humid environments, with a temperature range from 30 to 40°F (the colder, the better). The refrigerator can meet the temperature need, so keeping them in the refrigerator crisper drawer with the air vent open should give them the longest life span possible. To help increase humidity (which helps to keep apples crisp), you could place a damp paper towel in the drawer with the apples. However, always keep the drawer air vent open to prevent the ethylene gas from building up around the apples, which would cause them to age faster.
Best Uses for Envy Apples
Fresh. Envy apples are excellent for any application where fresh apples would be used. Since they are very slow to oxidize, they will stay fresh looking when cut early for salads or appetizer trays. Envy apples are an excellent choice for classic Waldorf and other salads. Envy apples also pair well with cheese and fruity oatmeal bowls.
Baking. Envy apples are excellent when used in baked applications. Whether they are prepared as baked apples or included in pies, crisps, or other baked goods, the characteristics of their parents come through with the sweetness of Gala apples, and the texture of Braeburns. They can be used on their own or combined with other apples as desired. The flavor of Envy apples makes then an exceptional apple for cakes and pies.
Cooking. Envy apples can be cooked into sauce. They hold their shape and flavor well when cooked in any application. Envy apples pair well with chicken and pork in savory dishes, and also chicken salads. Bear in mind that the skin of Envy apples can be rather tough, so it won’t break down easily when cooked. It may be best to remove the skin when these apples used in any cooked dish.
Drying. Envy apples are good candidates for being dehydrated. Even though they are slow to brown, it would still be best to treat them with an acid solution (such as lemon water) before drying to help preserve their color.
Recipe Links
Envy Apple Oat Crumble and Citrus Caramel Topping https://envyapple.com/en/enjoying-envy/envytm-apple-oat-crumble-citrus-caramel-topping
Grilled Chicken and Envy Apple BBQ Sauce https://envyapple.com/en/enjoying-envy/grilled-chicken-envytm-apple-bbq-sauce
Savory French Toast with Envy Apple Salsa https://envyapple.com/en/enjoying-envy/savory-french-toast-envytm-apple-salsa
Envy Avocado Toast https://envyapple.com/en/enjoying-envy/envytm-avocado-toast
Roasted Peaches with Envy Apples with Warm Hazelnut Vinaigrette https://envyapple.com/en/enjoying-envy/roasted-peaches-envytm-apples-warm-hazelnut-vinaigrette
Roasted Root Vegetables and Envy Apples with Pecan Crumble https://envyapple.com/en/enjoying-envy/roasted-root-vegetables-envytm-apples-pecan-crumble
Envy Apple and Strawberry Swirl Sorbet https://envyapple.com/en/enjoying-envy/envytm-apple-strawberry-swirl-sorbet
Shaved Fennel and Envy Apple Salad https://envyapple.com/en/enjoying-envy/shaved-fennel-and-envytm-apple-salad
Envy Tropical Smoothie https://envyapple.com/en/enjoying-envy/envytm-tropical-smoothie
Envy Apple Pumpkin Pie https://envyapple.com/en/enjoying-envy/envytm-apple-pumpkin-pie
Spiralized Envy Apple and Kale Salad https://envyapple.com/en/enjoying-envy/spiralized-envytm-apple-kale-salad
Elegant Envy Slaw https://envyapple.com/en/enjoying-envy/elegant-envytm-slaw
Best Apple Muffins https://minnetonkaorchards.com/best-apple-muffins/
Resources
https://minnetonkaorchards.com/all-about-envy-apples/
https://specialtyproduce.com/produce/envy_apples_9142.php
https://www.homefortheharvest.com/envy-apples/
https://www.tasteatlas.com/most-popular-apples-in-new-zealand
https://theproducenews.com/shoppers-choose-envy-apples-best-flavor-crunch-and-appearance
https://www.orangepippin.com/varieties/apples/envy-scilate
http://www.produceoasis.com/ProductDetailPage/TabId/272/PId/16/Apples/Envy-Apple.aspx
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/quercetin#what-it-is
https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/supplement/quercetin
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/556777/simple-trick-keeping-your-apples-fresh-longer
About Judi
Julia W. Klee (Judi) began her journey enjoying “all things food” in elementary school when she started preparing meals for her family. That love of food blossomed into a quest to learn more and more about health and wellness as related to nutrition. She went on to earn a BS Degree in Food and Nutrition, then an MS Degree in Nutrition. She has taught nutrition and related courses at the college level to pre-nursing and exercise science students. Her hunger to learn didn’t stop upon graduation from college. She continues to research on a regular basis about nutrition as it relates to health. Her hope is to help as many people as possible to enjoy foods that promote health and wellness.
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