Apples are one of my favorite snacks that I like to simply cut and eat as I go about my daily chores at home. I must say I was a little leery of an apple which did not brown but boy did I find a gold mine. I love apples as my snack and as a busy mom of two active girls I often find myself on the go so I am always looking for great grab and go snacks that I can toss in my purse. I love apples but I often do not take them on the go because I prefer to have them without the core. Anyone who has ever cut an apple knows that the moment you cut an apple it starts the browning process hence the reason that I do not cut them up for my grab and go snack. Then one day I got an email from Bzzagent asking me join a campaign to try out a new apple called Opal which were non- GMO and are naturally non-browning. Opal apples first hit the apple scene in the US in 2010 and they are exclusively grown in Washington at a place called Broetje Orchards. I saw the non- browning part my eyes got big and I was all in. The first thing I did was cut an apple up and I left it sitting on my kitchen counter to see if it held up to all the browning claims and it really did. I even went as far as to leave it sitting there overnight and the next morning it was still holding strong.
These little gems are only available from November until March and they are truly a treat. Opal apples are bright yellow in color and the flavor is amazing These are sure to be the new apple of your eye. At first bite I found the flavor to resemble that of a cross between a pear and an apple. The opal apple's texture has a little crispness to it but it is not as firm as other apples like the granny smith. I absolutely love the Opal apples, I just wish the texture was a little firmer. Another great thing about Opal apples is that they have been known as the apple with a purpose, because a portion of their sales Apples’ sales go to their Youth Make a Difference grants, which support youth-led non-profits involving food, nutrition and agriculture. So what more could you ask from your apple, great taste, and a support for great causes. I am sold on them and so are my friends.
I knew I had found something good in Opal apples but I wanted to see if my friends felt the same way so I provided two of them with an apple to try. After all was said and done, they too were fans. One friend said that it was a great late night snack that she enjoyed with a little peanut butter. The one downside that my friends reported is that the apples were not easy to locate in stores. I too agree with this because I had to look at over 5 stores before I was able to secure mine. The other problem that I found was that the apples were a little on the expensive side. I paid about $7 dollars for about 5 apples. Each apple was priced at a little over a dollar a piece. As much as I loved the flavor and the non- browning I am not sure if I would be willing to keep shelling out so much money to support my new favorite fruit.
Opal apples lived up to all their claims and they are in fact a great grab and go snack that you can enjoy without all the ugly browning of other apples. Next time you are in your local store check out the apple section and see if you can find this little gem. I promise you will not be disappointed.
