The crunchy apple with a tropical taste that you just have to try. Find out when and where to find these apples.
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Wow has the apple world change in the last decade!
Every year next varieties have been hitting stores. Some that were once new have become stables. Other have fallen by the wayside.
One of the new stable apples is the Pinata. In 2010, the Pinata apple was released by Stemilt fruit nationally for the first time.
Now Pinata are one of the most common apples in the grocery store. Most major grocery stores carry them during the season.
Let us share with you all that we know about the Pinata apple.
Where are They Grown?
Pinata apples are grown in Washington. You may also find the apple under the name "Pinova". I have had Michigan and Ohio grown Pinova apples. Pinata is the trademarked name that Stemilt growers use.
When are They in Season?
? Pinata apples are available approximately from November through July, with peak availability in the early winter months.
Originally when Pinata apples were first released it was right around the New Year. In case your wondering where they are harvesting apples in January in the United States, these apples were actually harvested in October and held in a controlled area until their nationwide release just after Christmas.
Now I see them showing up before Thanksgiving. And as I update this post in June, I just saw a bag of Pinata apples the other day at a grocery store in Ohio.
As the size of the crop has increased, so has Pinata availability. You can now get them from November through July, leaving only 3 months of the year when they are unavailable.
Pinata apples are at their best when they first arrive in stores.
Can You Buy Organic?
Yes. Stemilt offers organic Pinata apples under their Artisan Organics label. The organic one are available at the same time as the conventional but can be a little harder to track down.
Look for Organic Pinata at stores that carry only organic or prefer organic fruit, such as places like Trader Joe's or Whole Foods.
Apple Review
My Experience with this Apple (Rating Scale 1-10)
| Aspect | Score |
| Crispiness | 8 |
| Tartness | 6 |
| Apple Flavor | 6 |
| Sweetness | 7 |
| Juiciness | 8 |
What is the Flavor?
So what does the Pinata apple taste like?
In the Pinata's heritage you find the Golden Delicious, Cox's Orange Pippin, and the Duchess of Oldenburg (fancy name!).
Cox's Orange Pippin is a favorite apple in the UK. Some of it's flavor can be tasted in the Pinata.
The apple is firm, crunchy, and juicy. It has a tropical (pineapple/mango like) undertone in it's taste, which makes it unique.
When comparing Pinata to the most popular apple - the Honeycrisp, I would say that Pinata are sweeter. They don't grow a large and they aren't as crispy, but far from being a soft apple - unless you get them towards the end of the season.
I do have to note that I have experienced inconsistency in flavor in recent years, in which a good portion of the apples I have had have been bland in flavor and a big letdown. My recommendation is to look for smaller apples, that have a orangish undertone to them.
Pinata apples are slow to brown so you can enjoy your time eating it, which out of hand eating is probably your best bet with this apple. That slow browning feature makes them great for salads.
Try These Varieties Too
Here are some other new, modern varieties you should check out in your local grocery store.
Are They GMO?
No, Pinata apples are not a GMO variety. The only genitally modified apples that you might find have the name "Arctic" in them - and I have never seen any of those in stores to date.
Can You Cook with Them?
Yes.
They hold their shape pretty good. I do think they are too sweet for baking purposes.
Here is what I like to do -= combine them with butter squash and saute them in a pan. Make sure to check out my full post featuring this recipe.
Ingredients
- 1 Pinata apple peeled and cubed
- 1 small butternut squash peeled and cubed
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon high smoke point cooking oil I used sunflower
- 1 teaspoon good apple cider vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Melt the butter along with the oil in a saute pan over medium high heat.
- Add the squah along with the pepper and salt to taste.
- Cook the squash for 8 minutes, turning occasionally for even browning.
- Add the apple and cook for 5 minutes or until the apples have softened.
- Add the nutmeg,maple syrup, and apple cider vinegar. Stir to combine.
- Serve hot
Here are some apple related kitchen tools I recommend:
Amco Dial-A-Slice Adjustable Apple Corer and Slicer : Allows you to slice apples into either 8 or 16 pieces
Zyliss Soft Skin Peeler : The best peeler I have ever owned. Does a great job peeling an apple.
Mirro Foley 2-Quart Stainless Steel Food Mill : A great tool for making your own applesauce. You can make the sauce without having to do any peeling.
Have you tried this apple? What did you think? Leave a comment below telling us. Be a helper and share where you found it. You may make someone's day with your insider info on where to get them! If you are a true apple lover, you'll want to check out all of our apple reviews.
Stemilt
Thanks for mentioning our exclusive apple variety, Pinata! Such a great description of the apple's flavor. It's the blend of heirloom varieties and a unique, thin skin from Golden Delicious that give this apple its versatility. We have more of this apple planted in our orchards right now - so look for Pinata in the coming years too! Also, we mentioned this post on our Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/PinataApple.
Marc-Paul Lee
omg, as the kids say. i just tried a pinata apple and it was AMAZING. we've been buying galas so i was expecting that taste but the pinata was so much more flavorful. it really woke up my tastebuds. will definitely look for these again in the future.