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Many grocery stores carry quite an array of apples these days — from bright green Granny Smiths to delightfully speckled Honeycrisp and Gala apples.
But unless you live in a very, very remote part of Tibet, chances are you probably haven't seen a black apple ... until now.
Black Diamond apples are a rare variety from the family of Hua Niu apples (also known as the Chinese Red Delicious). The name is a little misleading because they aren't exactly black, but rather a dark hue of purple. The unique apples owe their color to their native geography in Nyingchi, a small city in the mountains of Tibet, where they receive a lot of ultraviolet light during the day but the temperature fluctuates very dramatically at night causing the skin to develop a deep, dark color. The flesh inside is white and bright like any other apple.
However, if you won't be near China anytime soon, the U.S. has its own darker breed of apples, too: the Arkansas Black. While not super dark, these apples are much darker than a standard Red Delicious and would make a fun stand-in at any Snow White-themed party.
So why don't we see the uniquely colored Arkansas apples among the Galas and Fujis of the world?
"The Arkansas Black apple is one that you have to store in order for it to taste good," Norm Schultz, a farmer at Linvilla Orchards in Media, Pennsylvania, told TODAY Food. "It takes a long time to develop their flavors." Basically, explained Schultz, Arkansas Black apples are picked in the fall (when other apples are harvested) but they're quite tart right off the tree. After being stored for several months, they develop a sweeter taste and their harder flesh softens up.
It's a significant time investment for the farmer that doesn't always pay off — whether you're in the U.S. or in a remote Tibetan mountain.
"I do know that many apple farmers don't like growing these unusual hybrids because it takes five to eight years to get fruit and they are unproven in the market," Mark Veeder, a botanist, farmer and founder of Farmacy Beauty said.
But could that darker skin be imbued with better nutrients like dark, leafy green veggies?
Although they offer a nice sweet crunch, Black Diamond apples like don't have a higher nutritional value than most commercial apple varieties, Bonnie Taub-Dix, RDN, creator of BetterThanDieting.com, author of "Read It Before You Eat It - Taking You from Label to Table," said
"An average apple provide 4 grams of fiber, around 100 calories and they contain a flavonoid called epicatechin, which has been shown to reduce blood pressure and support heart health," said the nutritionist. "Apples have also been shown to be anti-inflammatory and they are filling and satisfying."
While these beautiful apples may not be more nutritionally beneficial than their brighter counterparts, they are definitely more expensive. These apples are produced within very limited windows and are sold for about two months out of the year. In China, they are only sold in high-end supermarkets (usually in gift boxes) and each individual apple starts at $7 but some can be as pricey as $20!
As an avid enthusiast in the field of horticulture and agricultural diversity, my comprehensive understanding of various apple varieties and their unique characteristics allows me to delve into the intriguing world of rare and distinct apples, such as the Black Diamond and Arkansas Black apples mentioned in the article.
Let's begin with the Black Diamond apples, a fascinating rarity originating from the family of Hua Niu apples, also known as Chinese Red Delicious. Contrary to their name, these apples aren't precisely black but rather exhibit a dark hue of purple. Their distinct coloration is a result of their native geography in Nyingchi, a mountainous region in Tibet. The apples receive abundant ultraviolet light during the day, while the dramatic temperature fluctuations at night cause the skin to develop this deep, dark color. Despite their unique appearance, the flesh inside is white and bright, resembling that of any conventional apple.
Now, shifting focus to a U.S. counterpart, the Arkansas Black apple, we discover a variety with a darker complexion compared to the standard Red Delicious. These apples, however, pose an interesting challenge. According to Norm Schultz, a farmer at Linvilla Orchards in Pennsylvania, Arkansas Black apples need to be stored for an extended period to develop their flavors. Picked in the fall, they start off quite tart but gradually become sweeter and their flesh softens after several months of storage. This characteristic time investment can be a deterrent for farmers, given the five to eight years it takes to yield fruit and the uncertain market reception of these unusual hybrids, as noted by botanist, farmer, and founder of Farmacy Beauty, Mark Veeder.
The article raises an intriguing question about the nutritional benefits of these uniquely colored apples, especially the Black Diamond variety. Despite their attractive appearance, Black Diamond apples, like many commercial varieties, do not offer significantly higher nutritional value. Bonnie Taub-Dix, a registered dietitian nutritionist, emphasizes that while these apples provide a sweet crunch, their nutritional content, including fiber, calories, and the flavonoid epicatechin, aligns with that of an average apple. Apples, in general, have been recognized for their anti-inflammatory properties, ability to reduce blood pressure, and overall satiety.
What makes these apples truly stand out, however, is their exclusivity and higher price tag. Black Diamond apples, in particular, are produced within limited windows and are available for a short duration each year. In China, they are sold in high-end supermarkets, often in gift boxes, with individual apples starting at $7 and some fetching prices as high as $20. This scarcity and premium pricing contribute to the allure of these apples, making them a coveted and luxury item in the world of fruit enthusiasts.
