Two of America's favorite apples - Honeycrisp and Cripps Pink (Pink Lady) had a baby and it's called Wild Twist. It's one of the prettiest apples you'll see. How does it taste?
Are you a Honeycrisp fan?
Are you a Cripps Pink fan? (Pink Lady is the trademarked name used for many Cripps Pink apples, for the sake of ease I will use Pink Lady from here on out).
What if I told you that the best attributes of each apples was combined in a new apple variety?
Wouldn't that be wild!
You don't have to imagine that anymore as we now have the Wild Twist apples.
Sweet Cheeks Becomes Wild Twist
Hess Brothers, a fruit company out of Lancaster, PA are bringing the Wild Twist apple to the market. The apple was originally being marketed as the Sweet Cheeks apple. In 2020, the name was changed to Wild Twist, to better play up that this apple is a twist of two great apples.
The apple is being planted across dozens of farms in Pennsylvania, New York, and Virginia. They also have been planted out in Washington as well.
When Are They Harvested?
Wild Twist apples are harvested in at the end of October/early November, which makes them one of the last apples harvested for the year. In comparison, Honeycrisp is picked in early September.
When are Wild Twist Apples in Season?
Just because the apples come off the tree in late October/early November doesn't mean they are available then. Due to their Pink Lady heritage, Wild Twist apples need time to mellow out. I once had a Pink Lady that was freshly picked and man, was it tart. I couldn't eat it.
When Wild Twist is stored under regular conditions, not climate controlled, it will improve in flavor.
Even thought we don't think of apples in terms of ripeness the same way we do something like a peach, apple actually do vary a lot with age. Some are great right of the tree and some, like Wild Twist, need a little time.
As production picks up Wild Twist apples are expected to be available in stores from mid to late January to June. This is a time period where it becomes harder to find a good tasting apple. By this point in the year, Honeycrisp just aren't what they use to be back in September.
Overall Experience
On a scale of 1-10, here is how I rate this apple:
| Sweetness | 7 |
| Tartness | 6 |
| Crispiness | 9 |
| Juiciness | 8 |
| Flavor | 8 |
Wild Twist is a very good apple. It's one of the better Honeycrisp crosses I have had. It walks the sweet/tart line perfectly, just siding on the sweet side with the right amount of tartness to give it personality.
It's crisp without being too hard or tiring to chew. The flavor itself seems to be the perfect mash up of Honeycrisp and Pink Lady, althought I feel more like I am eating a Pink Lady.
Is It a Good Apple to Bake With?
Yes, Wild Twist holds it's shape well when baked. I baked an Irish Apple Cake with it and it came out fantastic. The apples inside the cake were firm without being crunchy. Give it a try for any apple recipe where you want the apples to hold their shape well.
Where to Find Wild Twist?
As like all new varieties it takes time for the trees to produce a big enough crop to be widely available. So for now Wild Twist is available mainly in the eastern part of the country at stores like:
- Kroger stores (under the Private Selection label)
- Giant Eagle
- Costco
- Safeway
- Lancaster Central Market
- Stauffers of Kissel Hill
- Giant
- Meck's Produce
🎧 Podcast Episode - The Children of the Honeycrisp
Listen to me talk about the different types of apples that have been made by crossing another apple with a Honeycrisp by clicking the play button below.
Listen to more episodes of the Eat Shop Waste Not
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.
Jonathan
Just got one of these apples from Safeway in Baltimore. It had a great taste, good level of crispiness.
Eric Samuelson
Thanks for sharing your experience, Jonathan. Glad that you liked them.
Carol nestor
First bumped into the wild twist at Walmart here in Pittsburgh,Pa. Great apple I never instead just a wonderful apple. Please do not stop delivering it here in Pittsburgh. Thanks. Carol and also my Labrador who also enjoys your apple each day.
Angela Davis-Stokes
Just had a wild twist apple and it was delicious! I said to my husband it taste like a honeycrisp, but no tart. Found it in Giant, Abington, PA.
Eric Samuelson
Angela, thanks for sharing. I am glad to hear you like them.
Caryn baker
Wish could find in North Carolina Walmart or food lion or aldi
Harvey Freedenberg
Found your review as my wife and I were eating a Wild Twist. It was recommended to us by a friend who has worked in the wholesale produce business (mostly apples) all his life. We loved it and your review was spot on. Love your T-shirt also. I’m a U of M alum.
Bon
Found at Hegedorn's in Webster NY Really like it.;
Sal
I had never heard of them before I noticed them a Costco. Price was good so I thought I would give them a try. I don’t eat apples much any more because they are pretty tasteless but these I couldn’t believe. I truly eat an apple a day now.
Eric Samuelson
Glad that you decided to try them and discovered that they are good.
Cynthia Gilbert
Love Wild Twist! Buy them at our local and the best apple orchard - Schutt’s in Webster, NY. And don’t forget to buy some of their famous and fabulous homemade fried cakes!
Louise
Bought wild twist apples at a Publix grocery store in New Bern NC and loved the taste. Looked for them at our local Giant in PA and did not find them. Will look at stores you listed
Eric Samuelson
Glad to hear that you got to try the apple.
Elaine Robinson
Just bought these apples a t Publix. It isn’t new to me. I will buy again, delicious. Recommend 100%
Bought in Melbourne Beach, Florida
Ellen
Absolutely the best apple I’ve had in a long time! I picked them up at Aldi’s in Auburndale FL.
Eric Samuelson
Thanks for sharing. I didn't know they ended up at ALDI!
Brenda
How do they compare to McIntosh?
Eric Samuelson
I would say they are quite different in taste. They are closer to being like a sweeter Pink Lady. There are sweeter and more crisp than a McIntosh.
Becky S Evans
I found my first bag of wild twist apples at a Kroger in Indianapolis in May of this year. Loved them! But cannot find more. Are they in Indianapolis now? Best Apple ever!
Kathleen Giampetro
Wild Twist apples are absolutely delicious. My first bite was amazing and I knew I had made a wonderful discovery. Pink Lady was my favorite apple but now is in second place. Wind Twist is a winner and will be my number one choice
Eric Samuelson
I am glad to hear you found them and are enjoying them.
Virginia
Purchased at Stop N Shop in NYC late Jan-early Feb 2023 and again late Feb. The Wild Twist apple is sweet and juicy, reminds me of a fresh glass of apple cider. In fact I emailed the farm in Lancaster where the apples are grown to let them know how excited I was about their apple variety and where I purchased them.
Eric Samuelson
Glad you found them and are loving them. I sure they appreciated you contacting them too.
Jeanie
Just had my first Wild Twist. I love a good Honey Crisp, but they're often too large. The combo of the Pink Lady and Honey Crisp makes for a perfect size. And the taste and texture were spot on. Not too sweet or tart, and not too soft or hard. Got it from our local Schnucks in St. Louis. I would buy it again.
Eric Samuelson
Thanks for sharing your experience. I agree on that Honeycrisp often being too large. I get tired of chewing them after a while.
Kathryn
My husband has a friend who drives truck and hauled a load of Wild Twist. He gave us some and now they are my number one favorite apple. Any chance the trees will be available for sale for home growing?
Eric Samuelson
I am glad you discovered them. I highly doubt you would be able to get a treat. Most of these varieties are only licensed out to be grown by particular orchards.
Sheryl
Hi. Just tried a Wild Twist I bought at a Safeway in Northern Virginia. I have to say I was not impressed. It was only mildly sweet. Had none of the complexities of apples like MacIntosh or Emplre. It was crisp and beautiful looking. To be fair, this is the only Wild Twist I have tried, so perhaps it was just a "bad apple," tastewise. Harris Teeter has some for sale, so I may give it another go.
Eric Samuelson
I am glad you got to give it a try. Thanks for sharing. I always like to give an apple more one than 1 shot to be sure I like or don't like it, so I think that's a good plan. You may just discover it's not your up of tea either and that's ok.