This is my third installment in a series of reviews of New Zealand grown apples that I found at Jungle Jim’s in Cincinnati, Ohio. The first two were the Breeze and Royal Joburn varieties. The final one of the series is the Diva apple. I have enjoyed getting to try new apples when we are far removed from apple season here.
The Diva apple was developed in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, which is located on the east coast of the North Island. The climate there is dry and temperate. This area is renowned for it’s vineyards and orchards. The Diva apple is grown there by both conventional and organic means. The sample I purchased was organic. The other apples I mentioned with both conventional. It is available during late spring in the United States.
The apple is a beautiful red color with light streaks of color and a round shape. The name “DIVA” goes along with the trend of giving apples short, 4 letter names – Jazz, Envy, Kiku, so and so. It’s easier to get the name boldly on the sticker of the fruit if you have a short name. From a marketing perspective it makes sense, although I don’t really love the name Diva.
My Experience with this Apple (Rating Scale 1-10)
| Aspect | Score |
|---|---|
| Crispiness | 8 |
| Tartness | 4 |
| Apple Flavor | 7 |
| Sweetness | 8 |
| Juiciness | 10 |
| Where I Bought Them | Jungle Jim's (Cincinnati OH) |
Overall Feeling:
Every new apple that comes out seems to always be about two things – sweet and crisp with flavor being a distant third. I was thinking oh no not another sweet, crunchy, yet flavorless apple. This has some flavor along with a bit of acidity, so it’s more than drinking sugar water – try a Sonya apple if you want that experience. It’s super juicy. One of the juiciest apples I have ever had! Plenty of juice for juicing making.
I only purchased one of these apples to try as they were organic and imported so the price was high ($3.49 per pound).
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