All the talk this year regarding apples have been around the new SweeTango variety. It is a cross between a Zestar! and the popular Honeycrisp. It was developed at the University of Minnesota. It is grown by a cooperative of growers, called the Next Big Thing. This includes 45 members at this time, one of them being Stemilt Growers. The SweeTango apples I got to try were grown by Stemilt.
It was first released commercially last year, but only in small quantities. This year there will be more available, but you still have to act fast. As the trees grow and mature, SweeTango will become easier to find. Click here for a list of places that I have confirmed will have SweeTango. This apple is harvested in late August and early September, making it one of the first quality apples of the season.
The first thing you might notice about this apple is that is looks alot like a Honeycrisp. It is the same red color with a yellow breaking background. You will also notice the size of the apple. Young trees tend to produce large apples, as time goes on the tree will produce more, but smaller apples.
My Experience with this Apple (Rating Scale 1-10)
Crispiness: 10
Tartness : 5
Apple Flavor: 7
Sweetness: 5
Juiciness: 9
Overall Feeling: Before I took my first bite, I took some time to smell the apple. This apple is said to have hints of fall spices in it. When I smelled the bottom of the apple, it smelled like some kind of spice, almost like cinnamon or ginger. So then I sliced up the apple and watched the juice run down my knife. And finally the first taste, wow that’s one crisp apple. It for sure has the crispiness that the Honeycrisp is known for. Taste wise it has a nice balance of sweet and tart notes with a solid apple flavor. Now as for those fall spices, you could taste them as you shallow the apple.
Looking for SweeTango? Check out my page on where to find them.
Click here for everything apple related on my site.
1 comment
11 pings
Cheryl says:
September 3, 2010 at 1:51 pm (UTC -6)
Thank you SO MUCH for the update on SweeTango availability. Tomorrow I will be hitting one or more of the stores you named for the Twin Cities area in MN.
Never did get even a bite of one last year… I’m determined not to miss out for 2 years in a row!
Thanks again.
Cheryl
Eat Like No One Else − Where to Find SweeTango Apples in 2010? says:
September 3, 2010 at 6:31 am (UTC -6)
[...] hot item of this upcoming fall season has got to be the SweeTango apple. It is a new apple developed at the University of Minnesota. SweeTango is a cross between a [...]
Tweets that mention Eat Like No One Else − What is a SweeTango Apple Like? -- Topsy.com says:
September 3, 2010 at 11:15 am (UTC -6)
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Craig Larsen, Stemilt Growers. Stemilt Growers said: Great post about #SweeTango apples. Limited availability nationwide very soon: http://bit.ly/aONPUw [...]
Eat Like No One Else − Zestar! Apple says:
September 7, 2010 at 7:11 am (UTC -6)
[...] have heard alot about the Zestar apple, mainly for it being one of the parents of the SweeTango. I finally got to try my first slice of Zestar this morning. To give you some background [...]
Eat Like No One Else − Honeycrisp vs. SweeTango : Which is Better? says:
September 23, 2010 at 2:35 pm (UTC -6)
[...] my tastebuds were the battleground for a matchup of parent (Honeycrisp) vs. child (SweeTango), an establish player vs. an up-and-comer, Honeycrisp vs. SweeTango. I [...]
Eat Like No One Else − Apple Variety Reviews says:
September 28, 2010 at 12:46 pm (UTC -6)
[...] Ginger Gold Zestar! SweeTango Red Astrachan Swiss Gourmet (Arlet) Grimes [...]
Eat Like No One Else − FAQ: Where Can I Buy a SweeTango Tree? says:
October 5, 2010 at 12:00 pm (UTC -6)
[...] The SweeTango variety can only be grown right now by those belonging to the Next Big Thing Grower’s Cooperative. [...]
Eat Like No One Else − Where to Order (Buy) Fresh Fruit Baskets Online for Christmas? says:
December 6, 2010 at 10:22 am (UTC -6)
[...] have some gift baskets that come with fruit and some fruit-based sauces. I have had some of their SweeTango apples before and they were both beautiful and delicious. As for shipping, they do offer FREE 2-day [...]
Eat Like No One Else − Where to Find SweeTango Apples in 2011? says:
September 5, 2011 at 10:01 am (UTC -6)
[...] that time of year again. Time for your taste buds to dance with the arrival of the SweeTango apple to the marketplace. This page is your source for where to find this great apple this year. I will [...]
My First Michigan Grown SweeTango Apples » Eat Like No One Else says:
September 29, 2011 at 4:07 am (UTC -6)
[...] year I had my first SweeTango apples. I had them from 2 different sources. The first was grown by Stemilt growers in Washington and the [...]
When Does Apple Season Begin, Peak, and End? » Eat Like No One Else says:
November 4, 2011 at 11:55 am (UTC -6)
[...] This month features some of the best and most popular. Honeycrisp and it’s offspring SweeTango hit store shelves right around Labor Day. This is also when you need to get your McIntosh apples. [...]
The SweeTango Apple Hits the Airwaves on NPR » Eat Like No One Else says:
November 18, 2011 at 10:11 pm (UTC -6)
[...] on the NPR show “All Things Considered” they aired a just under 5 minute piece on the SweeTango apple. It was not long ago that I felt like I was in the minority that knew SweeTango was one of the most [...]