Apple varieties have increased over the past years since growers are working tirelessly to create the perfect apple. Different varieties are usually crossed to form new ones.
Growers take into consideration the shelf life, texture, flavor, and appearance while breeding different varieties to form exciting new ones.
Jazz apples are one of those varieties achieved by cross-breeding. The apples were developed in the 1980s, but they were not introduced in the market until 2000. Its origin can be traced back to New Zealand.
Jazz apples have rosy red skin with orange, yellow, or green undertones. They also have creamy yellow flesh that is juicy but with a crisp texture.
In case you are wondering what jazz apples taste like, keep reading. In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about them including the flavor, seasons/ availability, where to buy them, and their uses. We’ll even look at one of my favorite recipes. Let’s dive in.
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What do they taste like?
As I mentioned at the beginning, a jazz apple is achieved by cross-breeding. It is a cross between a Braeburn and a Royal Gala.
Jazz apples have a low acid sweet-tart apple taste with pear undertones and an amazing crisp texture.
Asked to describe a jazz apple, I would say that it is a delicious fine-grained apple that you can eat fresh or use in cooking. The apple is also quite hard so if you have weak teeth I suggest slicing it first before eating.
There has been a lot of hype surrounding jazz apples in the United States, and I am here to assure you that they live up to the hype. I believe the reason why people enjoy them so much is because of their sweetness.
It is important to note that jazz apples contain approximately 16g of sugar so if you are watching your sugar intake you may want to sit this one out.
Jazz apple season and where to buy them
Jazz apples grow both in the northern and southern hemispheres.
Therefore, they are available all year round. Supplies from New Zealand and Chile appear in stores from March till September and those from the United States and the United Kingdom appear in stores from late October through April.
You can either buy jazz apples in grocery stores or in farmers’ markets. In case you do not feel like leaving the house, just buy them online. I know of several online vendors that stock them.
Do they have any nutritional value?
You’ll be glad to know that jazz apples are very nutritious.
They are an excellent source of antioxidants which are essential in the body. They are also rich in folic acid and dietary fiber which are known to promote heart health.
Jazz Apple Substitutes
Seeing how amazing jazz apples are, it is unlikely that you will always have them in stock every time you need them. This is why you need to be conversant with the various substitutes you can use in their place.
If you want apples that have a similar flavor to jazz apples, use Braeburn, Pink Lady, Golden Delicious, Jonagold, Honeycrisp, or Jonagold.
If you are making applesauce, I suggest you use either Gala, Fuji, Cox’s Orange Pippin, Fameuse, or Ambrosia.
The best substitutes to use in baked desserts are; Suncrisp, Granny smith, Sierra Beauty, Goldrush, and Arkansas Black.
Jazz Apple Uses
I have always believed that the best way to enjoy jazz apples is by eating them fresh out of hand. If you are lucky enough to buy them while they are fresh and in season, you’ll enjoy the sweet thirst-quenching treats they are.
Jazz apples also come in handy in cooking. You can use them in popular apple recipes including apple muffins and apple pies. You can also use jazz apples to make tasty apple crisps, kids absolutely love them.
You can use jazz apples to make apple sauce if you don’t have any other variety on hand. I personally do not like using them to make applesauce because they never give me the smooth texture that I want my applesauce to have.
Jazz apples tend to maintain their crunchy texture in applesauce which is, in my opinion, not pleasant.
My favorite Jazz Apple Pie
I absolutely love using jazz apples to make apple pie. The results are always amazing. Here is a recipe of my favorite jazz apple pie.
You will need;
- 7 cooked jazz apples (peeled, cored, and cut into slices).
- 2 cups self-rising flour
- 2 tablespoons of sugar
- 1 egg
- 4 ½ oz butter
- 2 tablespoons of water
Directions
- In a large mixing bowl, add the sugar, flour, and butter. Use your fingers to rub the three ingredients together until the texture becomes similar to that of crumbs.
- Beat your egg then add it to the mixing bowl together with the two tablespoons of water. Mix until it forms a dough.
- Place half of the dough on a flat surface and roll it out.
- Grease and flour your pie dish and then place the dough in the pie dish.
- Pour in the cooked jazz apples into the pie dish.
- Roll out the remaining half of the dough and place it on top of the apples.
- Press the edges of the pie together and remove any excess pastry.
- Use a small amount of milk to brush the pastry and sprinkle some sugar on it.
- Bake the pie at 350°F or 180°C for 50 minutes.
Conclusion
Jazz apples are an amazing apple variety. They are sweet, juicy, and have an amazing crisp texture. They are a delicious snack and kids love them.
Jazz apples have a high sugar content compared to most varieties. For instance, it has almost twice the amount of sugar that a Granny Smith has. I suggest not eating too many of them for health reasons.
I personally love jazz apples and believe they are worth the hype. If you have been debating whether you should try them out, this is your cue to do so. You will not be disappointed.
