Zestar! apples are a delicious early season apple with a brown sugar flavor.
📋 What's New In This Post (9/15/25) - Adding more info on baking Zestar! and how they compare to Honeycrisp.
✍🏻 Featured Comment - Jessica says "I just discovered this flavor of apple myself (Sept. 2023) and was pleasantly surprised and love how similar it was to my beloved Honeycrisp but at lower cost and some slight differences. I made a “glazed apple” recipe with the Zestar and thought they held up well!"
I Can't Resist a New Apple Variety
Whenever I hear the name of an apple variety that i haven't tried, I immediately want to try. Even though moments before I never heard of it. now I must have it. Many people are that way with new forms of technology, like the latest iPhone.
Thankfully my obsession is much cheaper!
I have heard a lot about the Zestar! apple, mainly for it being one of the parents of the SweeTango. I got my first slice a decade ago and now it's become an apple my family and I look forward to having each year. I have had them in many states across the country and want to share with you everything I have learned about this variety.
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History of Zestar
To give you some background information, the Zestar! was developed at the University of Minnesota, just like Honeycrisp and SweeTango. It was created by combining "State Fair" and "MN 1691". It was released in 1999.
When are They Harvested?
You can begin seeing Zestar! apples near mid to late August. That is when they will be the most crisp. I still seem them into September and by October I don't really see Zestar! around anymore, so it's a short season for sure.
What Do They Taste Like?
Here is my review of Zestar apples (Rating Scale 1-10)
| Crispiness | 6 |
| Tartness | 4 |
| Apple Flavor | 8 |
| Sweetness | 7 |
| Juiciness | 7 |
Zestar is a flavorful apple with notes of brown sugar. It is sweet but with just enough tartness to balance it out. It's a very good apple, when it's good. I often buy a lot of them near or around Labor Day as one of the first good eating apples of the year.
The problem with Zestar is that it bruises very easily and does not stay crisp long in storage. I think that this is why it never reached the popularity that the Honeycrisp apple. With that being said you should store them in the fridge to help keep them crisp longer.
What are Zestar Best For?
Out of hand eating early in the apple season is where these apples shine. Once they get too soft you can use them to make applesauce. They are great for that.
What About Baking?
How does the apple do when baked? I decided to test it out by using my single serving apple cobbler. Here is how it turned out:
It had good flavor. The apples held their shape well enough and were on the soft side. I think a more tart apple might be better suited. I wouldn't search these out for baking but I wouldn't not use them if that is what I had.
Zestar vs Honeycrisp
Let's break down the differences between Zestar! apples and Honeycrisp.
| Honeycrisp | Zestar! | |
| Introduced | By University of Minnesota, 1991 | By University of Minnesota, 1999 |
| Harvest Time | early-mid September | mid-late August |
| Sweetness | Sweet-tart | Sweet-tart |
| Texture | Extremely crisp & juicy | Firm and juicy |
So both apples were developed by the University of Minnesota. Both are juicy apples with a sweet-tart flavor. The main differences include Zestar! are harvested up to a month earlier. They also don't last as long before going soft. In terms of flavor, I prefer the flavor of a peak Zestar! over Honeycrisp. If only they lasted longer would we see this apple more.
Where to Buy Zestar! Apples
Here is a list of stores, farms, or orchards that I have heard carry Zestar! apples
- Whole Foods Market (select stores)
- Country Blossom Farm (Minnesota)
- Lapacek's Orchard (Wisconsin)
- Summersweet Orchards (Michigan)
- Johnston Fruit Farm (Ohio)
- North Star Orchards (New York)
- Oneill's Orchard (New York)
- Fair Oaks Farm (Indiana)
- Quarry Hills Orchard (Ohio)
- Tree Mendus Fruit Farm (Michigan)
- Goodwin's Orchard (New York)
- Afton Apple Orchard (Minnesota)
- Door Creek Orchard (Wisconsin)
- Kiyokawa Family Orchards (Oregon)
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Other Apples You'll Want to Try
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.
Jessica Arthur
I just discovered this flavor of apple myself (Sept. 2023) and was pleasantly surprised and love how similar it was to my beloved Honeycrisp but at lower cost and some slight differences. I made a “glazed apple” recipe with the Zestar and thought they held up well! Imo First found them while in the U.P., MI in L’anse Reservation then while at home visiting the local apple orchard Verellen Orchards in Washington, MI I have yet to try the Verellen apples as I just got them today!😉
Eric Samuelson
Glad you found them and are loving them. Later in the season they do start to get soft, they don't stay crisp as long as Honeycrisp.