11 apple varieties you need to know about

Apples hold a prominent place in Greek culture, with varieties like Starking Delicious, Firiki, and Delicious Pilafa standing out for their quality and flavor. Popular international varieties like Granny Smith, Pink Lady, and Fuji are also widely cultivated, offering a range of flavors and textures.

Perfect Pairings
– Apples pair well with alcoholic beverages, coffee, tea, and herbal infusions like pennyroyal and mint.
– They complement aromas like lemon and ginger and can be spiced with cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and star anise. Herbs such as rosemary, thyme, verbena, lavender, and spearmint also enhance their flavor.

Apples are deeply rooted in Greek tradition, from folk sayings to traditional desserts. Their cultural significance is undeniable, as is the variety of flavors they offer.

Top Apple Varieties:

Starking Delicious (PGI)
The most popular apples in Greece. This variety includes Kastoria apples, which earned PGI status in 2002. Known for its fragrance and sturdiness in baking, Starking Delicious Zagorin was the first apple in Europe to be certified as PDO in 1996.

Pink Lady
These apples have a distinctive pink hue, a crisp texture, and a balanced sweet-tart flavor. Their long ripening process enhances their nutritional value. They are primarily eaten raw or paired with cheeses.

Fuji
One of the sweetest apple varieties, making it a favorite for raw consumption, especially as a dessert. Fuji apples also have an extended shelf life compared to other varieties.

Gala
With their yellow skin, tinged with orange and red, these apples have a sweet, juicy, and crunchy flesh. They’re versatile, and used in both raw and cooked forms.

Firiki (PDO)
A small, elongated apple with a sweet flavor, Firiki is a protected variety from Pelion, where it has been cultivated since the 18th century. It has a white, soft flesh and an intense aroma, often used in traditional desserts.

Kiku
Bright red and crunchy with a sweet flavor, Kiku apples are ideal for fresh juices and are primarily cultivated in Northern Greece.

Delicious Pilafa (PDO)
Recognized as PDO since 1994, these apples are soft with a mildly sweet-tart flavor and a delicate aroma. Their greenish-red skin and compact flesh make them long-lasting. They are an old variety mostly grown in the Arcadian highlands.

Golden Delicious
Known as “banana apples” due to their yellowish hue, Golden Delicious apples have a unique aroma, juicy flesh, and a sweet flavor. They’re used in both cooking and baking.

Renettes
An old Greek variety with a flattened shape and a tangy taste. Renettes are rare, as they are produced in small quantities and mainly available in organic markets.

Mutsu (Crispin)
Green apples with a less acidic flavor than Granny Smith, Mutsu have shiny, pale green skin. Their flesh is yellowish-white, crunchy, juicy, and mildly tart. They’re excellent in salads and juices.

Granny Smith
Known for their sharp acidity and crisp texture, Granny Smith apples are bright green and are often used in both sweet and savory recipes, including pies, salads, and sauces.

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