The Real Reason Honeycrisp Apples Taste So Good

Honeycrisp apples are one of the most popular kinds of apples on the market these days. Despite their higher price tag, people continue to buy and love Honeycrisp apples. And it's all thanks to its delicious flavor. But this apple isn't some overnight trendy fruit. The Honeycrisp apple dates back to 1960 when it was first created by the University of Minnesota's apple breeding program. 

The apple was developed as a winter-hardy cultivar with a high-fruit quality, according to TC Times. The apple is a cross of Macoun and Honeygold apples, and later in 1974, it was chosen to be reproduced. Today the harvest season for the type of apple all depends on where you are. In some regions, like Minnesota, it is harvested from the middle of September until early October (via Minnesota Hardy). However, in other climates, such as that of Washington state, the apples are harvested earlier between late August and early September (via Stemilt). But the growing region isn't the reason why these apples are so delicious.

It goes down to the molecular level

Honeycrisp apples are so good because they're juicy and sweet, and that has to do with the makeup of the apples themselves. According to Shannon Rowe at Spicer Orchards in Hartland Township, "Honeycrisp tastes so good because they are juicier than any other apple." The reason the apple is juicier than any other apple is that the cells of the apple are larger. That's why juice runs down the sides of your mouth when you bite into one (via TC Times).

Not only do the apples taste so good because the cells pop wide open as you bite into them, though. Apart from their appetizing crunch, Honeycrisp apples have a clean and clear sweet flavor (via Vox). "They have a mixture of sweet and tart that creates a unique and flavorful apple," said Rowe. As if that weren't enough, Honeycrisp apples have a longer shelf life, too, if stored properly. So it isn't just you. These apples were bred to be so incredibly good. Pick some up the next time you're at the grocery store and enjoy the goodness for yourself.