Golden Delicious apple

Malus domestica

Undoubtedly one of the most important apple varieties of the 20th century, both as a commercial variety in its own right, and as breeding stock for many other varieties. Has a poor reputation amongst apple enthusiasts, but is actually surprisingly good when eaten straight from the tree.

Golden Delicious apple photo tape

Parentage: Grimes Golden ???
Origin: USA
Introduced: 1890s
Season: Nov-Jun
Apple cultivar ID: 108400


Golden Delicious is a variety which is often frowned upon by serious enthusiasts, but is justifiably popular as a supermarket variety - you either like it hate it !

The variety was first discovered in the USA at the end of the 19th century, and is now planted in all the major warm apple growing areas of the world. From a grower's perspective Golden Delicious is an attractive proposition - heavy crops, and fruit which keeps in storage for a long time after harvest. This would be of little interest to consumers, but it does have some redeeming features ! The fruit (when fresh from the tree) is exceptionally sweet, almost like eating raw sugar cane.  It can be used both for dessert and cooking purposes, and it also has an attractive appearance - which can indeed be golden if left to mature on the tree.

Its detractors see Golden Delicious as sugary, bland and boring. However there is no doubting the importance of this variety in the sheer number of new varieties which have been raised from it. You do not need to be a professional grower to realise that crossing Golden Delicious with Cox's Orange Pippin (or their respective offspring) might lead to something with both the sweetness of Golden Delicious and the richness and complexity of Cox, and that is indeed what many have tried. That other supermarket staple, Gala, is a good example of this strategy.

Golden Delicious can grow well in the UK provided you have a warm and sheltered microclimate.  Our photo shows an English-grown Golden Delicious - not the perfect specimen you might see in a supermarket, but still a nice crisp sweet apple.



Relationships to other apple varieties

Offspring of this variety

Visitor comments

(Use the form at the bottom to add your own comments, or reply to one of the existing comments)

29 May 2008 21:51   Steve from Grantham, UK
The Golden Delicious is a very popular apple with people where I work and, knowing I'm a bit of an apple enthusiast, are always asking what I think of them. It'd been so long since I had one that I had to go and buy some in order to comment. I wish I hadn't. They were soft, sugary and crumbly. I would love to try one direct from and orchard, however, after reading some of the other comments.Reply to this comment
21 May 2008 09:41   zoe from doncaster
i think the apples are very healthy for people who are loosing weaghtReply to this comment
14 Apr 2008 14:01   Gen from Northampton, UK
I find these too soft and crumbly too often.Reply to this comment
12 Feb 2008 20:37   Monique from Texas, USA
These are great for eating fresh and for kuchen and other desserts when just ripe (somewhere between green and gold.) When overripe, only Red Delicious is blander.Reply to this comment
04 Jan 2008 09:09   Amanda from Washington State, USA
If you want a good Golden Delicious, find one in the store that is "golden" in color with some russetting of the skin, not the insipid greenish examples normally found. Even better, when the Goldens are actually supposed to be in season, buy them direct from the orchards - at the numerous fruit stands in the Wenatchee area, you can find good Goldens direct since russetted fruit can't go to the packing houses.Reply to this comment
18 Oct 2007 10:46   Charles from Crawley, UK
I have never had a decent Golden Delicious!Reply to this comment
17 Sep 2007 02:37   Mary Arthur from Virginia
I grew up on the West coast & always hated golden delicious apples because they were mealy and bland. When I moved to Virginia 8 years ago I re-discovered this apple at the local orchards & it is now my favorite -- crisp, good sweet/tart balance & wonderful flavor. In Browning's book "Apples" he states that the Golden Delicious should never be grown West of the Mississippi -- he is absolutely right!! Try this again from an Eastern orchard and you may change your mind.Reply to this comment
03 Aug 2007 11:14   Julie from Mid-west, USA
I've never considered an apple "boring". :Simple, yes, no complex mixture of flavors, but boring? My question is, has Golden Delicious changed over the years? When I was a kid (I'm in my 40s), I could tell GD by looking; they'd have an almost translucent quality to their skin. And they were also perfect for long, long storage. They might get wrinkly, but they just got mellower, kept the good flavor, never got "mealy" or bruised or rotten. Now, what I see bagged as GD don't have any of those qualities! Reply to this comment

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Where to buy apple trees

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Where to buy fruit and related products

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