An Apple Tasting

I'm not a big apple eater, as I am slightly allergic to them when raw. I definitely can't eat the skins. But recent trips to the supermarket revealed a whole new world of apples beyond the usual Red and Gold Delicious and Granny Smith varieties. I thought it could be interesting to do an apple tasting and picked up three that neither Mr Minx nor I had tried before.

The Ambrosia apple is a cultivar from British Columbia. It has a fairly typical sweet apple aroma. The flesh is crisp and juicy. Low in acid, the flavor is nicely sweet and slightly complex. It is a perfect apple for eating out-of-hand. They are also slow to oxidize, so are good for fruit salads. As I tend to like sweet apples, this was my favorite of the three.

The Macoun, a cross between the McIntosh and the Jersey Black, had a pear-like aroma and a mushy texture reminiscent of my mother's favorite Winesap. Like the Winesap, Internet info tends to call both apples "crisp" whereas I think they are anything but. The flavor is gently sweet, aromatic, slightly floral, and what Mr Minx called "candy-like, or vanilla," and very low in acidity. Great for eating out-of-hand, if you appreciate the texture.

The Pink Lady apple, a Aussie cultivar, is a cross between a Golden Delicious and a Lady Williams. It has a sweet smell, like a Red Delicious, but a very tangy flavor, almost like a Granny Smith, with some perfume-y aspects. The texture was hard/crisp and juicy; Mr Minx called it "refreshing" and a good apple for summertime eating. I think it would be terrific for pies, and in salads.

What are your favorite apples and why? What do you suggest I try next?