There are so many different apple varieties it can be difficult to know which ones you might like. The information on this page will help you compare some of the apple varieties listed on this website with popular supermarket apple varieties.
Golden Delicious is a variety which is often frowned upon by serious enthusiasts, but is justifiably popular as a supermarket variety. Golden Delicious has been used in many breeding programmes, and Gala is probably the most well-known of its offspring.
Some other apple varieties which are quite similar are:
This is the classic English apple, often regarded as the finest of all dessert apples. It was discovered in England in the 19th century as a chance seedling, and has inspired apple lovers ever since. It remains unsurpassed for its richness and complexity of flavour, but is not as popular as its supermarket competitors, not least because it is relatively difficult to grow. It has to be said that Cox's reputation rests largely on fruit from specimen trees lovingly grown by enthusiasts - commercially produced examples from the UK, Netherlands, and New Zealand hardly ever attain this level, and can be amongst the most disappointing of supermarket offerings.
Some of these varieties (including Cox itself) are at their best a month or so after picking, provided they are carefully stored - in North America or Europe this would be November / December.
McIntosh was widely grown in North America but has proved more successful as the parent of a number of newer apple varieties of which Spartan is perhaps the most well-known. Apples of this type are always popular with children.
Some other apple varieties which are quite similar are:
Although Empire keeps well, these varieties are at their best when eaten as fresh as possible. Their refreshing flavour is enhanced by eating them straight from the fridge.
Braeburn is undoubtedly one of the most successful commercial apple varieties. Not only does it meet the needs of supermarket supply chains (it crops heavily and keeps well in storage) but it is also a well-flavoured crisp juicy apple which will appeal to almost anyone.
Some other apple varieties which are quite similar are:
Actually, compared to 5 years ago, supermarkets are now offering a wider selection of seasonal apple varieties - as well as the year-round supplies of their mainstream varieties such as Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Gala, Granny Smith, and Braeburn. However it is certainly true that the supermarkets have tended to favour apple varieties which look good on the shelf, store well and can survive the rigours of the international supply chains. Whilst this means we can enjoy cheap apples all year round, it seems that flavour is not always the top priority. Of the major supermarket apple varieties, Braeburn is by far the best when it comes to flavour, and when conditions are right is just as good as the old classic varieties. The others tend to have a rather one-dimensional flavour, mostly very sweet.
Supermarket suppliers store apples in controlled-atmosphere storage facilities, which keeps them fresh for 6 months or more. Some apples, notably Cox's Orange Pippin and similar varieties, improve in flavour during storage - but arguably only up to 2-3 months after picking. Other apple varieties, such as Golden Delicious and its offspring, also Braeburn and Pink Lady, don't necessarily improve in storage but nevertheless retain their flavour well for a long period.
Even so, the best flavour is generally found when the apples are in season. Apples from the northern hemisphere are at their best from September - December. Apples from the southern hemisphere are at their best from March-June.
Because modern storage facilities are so good, it is very common to find both northern and southern hemisphere apples in shops at the same time - even though (depending on the time of year) one will be 6 months older than the other.
If you are shopping for apples in North America or Europe, check the country of origin to make sure you are buying the freshest possible apples:
In Spring buy apples from:
In Autumn buy apples from:
In principle planting your your own apple trees should generally give you better results than buying from a supermarket, mainly because you can leave the fruit on the tree until it is perfectly ripe. However there are some pitfalls:
On balance it is probably better to grow one of the more garden-friendly alternatives listed above. If you are determined to grow a supermarket variety then Gala or Golden Delicious is probably the easiest one to try.