Golden Delicious apple
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.
Visitors comments:
I've never considered an apple "boring". :D Simple, yes, no complex mixture of flavors, but boring? <shrug> 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! Julie, mid-west, USA
Species: Malus domestica
Parentage: Grimes Golden ???
Origin: USA
Introduced / discovered: 1890s
Season: Nov-Jun
Comments
29 May 08 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.
21 May 08 09:41 zoe from doncaster
i think the apples are very healthy for people who are loosing weaght
14 Apr 08 14:01 Gen from Northampton, UK
I find these too soft and crumbly too often.
12 Feb 08 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.
04 Jan 08 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.
18 Oct 07 10:46 Charles from Crawley, UK
I have never had a decent Golden Delicious!
17 Sep 07 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.
Your comments
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