Sonya apple
Malus domestica
A very new apple variety, but already popular with fans of sweeter apples - and one of the most popular pages on this website.
Parentage: Gala and Red Delicious
Origin: New Zealand
Introduced: 2000
Season: Dec-March
Apple cultivar ID: 113200
Sonya is a crisp large modern apple variety from New Zealand, and started to become available in 2002.
Sonya has two distinctive features. Firstly, its unusual shape - it is a very tall apple, a shape which is characteristic of 'pearmain' apples such as Adams Pearmain. However the parentage is Gala and Red Delicious, so Sonya is very much in the Golden Delicious and Red Delicious style.
Sonya's other distinctive feature is its exceptional sweetness - which is what you would expect from an apple which is related to both Golden Delicious and Red Delicious. The flavour is strongly reminiscent of raw sugar cane, and there is no trace of acidity whatsover. The dominating sweetness does tend to give Sonya a rather one-dimensional flavour, but served straight from a fridge it is a very pleasant crisp refreshing apple and distinctly different from many other modern varieties. From the feedback we have received it appears that Sonya appeals much more strongly to North American tastes than European tastes.
A number of visitors have asked where they can buy Sonya apples or trees. If you are able to supply apples or you are a fruit tree nursery that can supply trees, please get in touch - apples@orangepippin.com.
Apple Tree Register
Do you have a tree of this variety in your garden or orchard? If so please register the details on our Apple Tree Register here.
Relationships to other apple varieties
Parents and other ancestors of this variety:
- Gala (parent)
- Golden Delicious - Related via Gala - Sonya is even sweeter than Golden Delicious
- Red Delicious (parent)
Discuss Sonya in our Forums
| 01 Mar 2010 03:08 | robert kuhn | |
| I might try them for cooking in a pinch. Not a good eating apple. Disappointed | ||
| 24 Feb 2010 22:06 | Lynn Turner | |
| We bought some for the first time yesterday and my husband and I both think they are a delightful change from the more tart apples (which we also enjoy). The apples we purchased are very crisp, so I'm guessing some of the previous commenters may have sampled some older apples. As long as we can get fresh, crisp Sonyas, I will buy them again! | ||
| 15 Feb 2010 02:37 | Bob | |
| Very disappointing apple. I looked them up here because the 3 of 7 purchased I've eaten all have an almost pear-like consistency. Probably a bad batch, since they're supposed to be crisp according to the description. Sweet and clean-tasting, but no real flavor to them. Won't but again, even at $.99/lb! | ||
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Where to buy apple trees
No tree suppliers listed for this variety.
Where to buy apples
No fruit suppliers listed for this variety.
Apple tree register
The following Sonya trees have been registered - click the name to view more details of each tree:
-
Chuck Peters
4911 KONNOWAC PASS RD, WAPATO, Washington USA, United States - See a map of these trees
Do you have a tree of this variety in your garden or orchard? If so please found out more about our Apple Tree Register here and register your apple trees.
Variety request
Is your favourite variety not listed here? We are constantly adding new variety details, so please use our contact form to suggest new varieties.
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