Fruit: Jazz Apples 0
It’s not often a new apple variety hits the shelves, and I remember seeing some of the media coverage about the Jazz Apple and wanted to see what the fuss was about. And after the last few reviews, I thought it was about time to review something healthier.
Jazz Apple is not the name of the apple variety — it is just the name it is being marketed under in Australia and New Zealand. The true name of the variety is ‘Scifresh’ — and outside Australia and New Zealand you might be more likely to find it under that name. Jazz is a much funkier name, however, and it’s nice to see the humble apple getting a marketing makeover.
This isn’t just about name changes, however — the Jazz Apple or Scifresh is a different flavour and texture to the usual apple varieties. I wrote my ‘tasting notes’ before I researched the Jazz Apple, so I was suprised to see how closely I’d picked this apple’s parentage. The apple is incredibly crispy, with a great balance of tart flavours and sweetness. I thought it tasted like a cross between a Royal Gala and a Granny Smith — and in fact I found out the apple is a hybrid of the Royal Gala and the Braeburn — and the Braeburn is a hybrid of the Granny Smith and the Lady Hamilton, so the Granny Smith is kind of the Jazz Apple’s ‘granny’.
The fruit is an appealing glossy red with pale yellow patches, and the flesh is very pale creamy-white. But the crispness of this apple is it’s most outstanding feature. The Royal Gala apple has always been my favourite, but I think the Jazz Apple wins out due to it’s slightly larger size, amazing crunch and slight tart flavour which makes it really enjoyable without being as tart as a Granny Smith. If the larger size is an issue for those who like a smaller apple, the Jazz Apple website also mentions a ‘snack size’ designed for kids, although I haven’t seen these in-store.
As usual, I bought my Jazz Apples at Fruity Capers in Toowong. At $6 a kilo, they are a little more expensive than Royal Gala apples, but they are definitely worth a try!
The Braeburn is known as a good cooking apple, so I’m curious about whether the Jazz is also good for cooking — if you’ve tried or have any comments about the Jazz Apple, please leave your message in the comments section below.
