What Apple Varieties Are There? A Grand Overview of China's Hometowns of Apples
The apple is a common fruit in daily life. It is usually eaten raw, but it can also be cooked or made into dried fruit, jam, jelly and so on. It is rich in various nutrients, and eating it can supplement nutrition as well as help with weight loss and beauty. So, what apple varieties are there?
I. A Brief Introduction to Apples!
1. When do apples ripen?
The apple is a deciduous tree of the genus Malus in the rose family. It generally blooms in April-May, and the flowers are white with a red blush. Most varieties are self-sterile and require pollinator trees to be planted; the fruit generally ripens from July to November, is usually oblate in shape, and the skin color is usually red or yellow.
2. When is the best time to eat apples?
It is better to eat them in the morning, when the spleen and stomach are at their most active, so eating them is good for the body's absorption. It is best to eat them half an hour before or after lunch; do not eat them right after a meal, to avoid affecting normal eating and digestion; do not eat them on an empty stomach, to avoid increasing the burden on the stomach; eating 1-2 a day is enough, as eating too many can cause physical discomfort.
II. What Apple Varieties Are There?
1. Classification by use: mainly divided into 3 major categories - cider varieties, cooking varieties and fresh-eating varieties. The 3 categories differ in size, color, aroma, smoothness, crispness, flavor and so on; in most parts of Europe, a large proportion of apples are used to make cider and brandy.
2. Classification by shape: they can be divided into round and conical. Most are round, such as Red Fuji, Ralls Janet, Yellow Marshal, Red Star, Gala, Red General, Hanfu, Granny Smith, Summer Green and so on; one type is conical, such as Huaniu apple.
3. Classification by color: they can be divided into red, yellow and green. Most are red, such as Red Fuji, Ralls Janet, Red Star, Gala, Red General, Hanfu and so on; some are yellow, such as Yellow Marshal; some are green, such as Granny Smith, Summer Green apple and so on.
4. Classification by maturity period: divided into early-maturing, mid-to-late-maturing and late-maturing varieties. Among the early-maturing varieties is Fujimaki No. 1, which ripens in late June to early July in Dangshan, Anhui; mid-to-late-maturing varieties include Yellow Marshal, Red Star, Gala, Red General, Hanfu, Huaniu and so on; late-maturing varieties include Granny Smith, Ralls Janet, Red Fuji and so on.
5. The world's main cultivated varieties include the Fuji series, the Delicious series, the Golden Delicious series, the Gala series, Granny Smith, Jonagold, Pink Lady, Braeburn and so on. The varieties whose growing area is expanding fastest are Fuji and Gala.
III. Which Places Are Known as China's Hometowns of Apples?
Chunhua County and Xunyi County in Xianyang City, Shaanxi Province; Baishui County in Weinan City, Shaanxi Province; Qinglong Manchu Autonomous County in Qinhuangdao City, Hebei Province; and Yantai City in Shandong Province and other places are known as “China's Hometown of Apples”. Qixia City in Yantai, Shandong is known as “China's Capital of Apples” and “China's No. 1 Apple City”.
1. Chunhua County: located in one of the world's three major apple-optimal growing regions, it is famous for Chunhua apples. It currently has nine premium varieties including Red Fuji, Granny Smith, New Red Star, Royal Gala and Qinguan. The fruit is generally large, brightly colored, high in quality, rich in flavor and easy to store.
2. Xunyi County: it is an apple GAP demonstration base under the Ministry of Agriculture's “948” major project, and is famous for Xunyi apples. There have been 11 main cultivated varieties in succession, especially the “Xunbao” brand Red Fuji, which is bright in color, fine in flesh, juicy, crisp, sweet and strongly fragrant, with a unique flavor, and can be called a top-grade fruit.
3. Baishui County: it is the world's best apple-optimal growing region and is famous for Baishui apples. Thanks to its unique geographical location and climate, the fruit produced is brightly colored, high in sugar content, rich in aroma, excellent in quality and easy to store and transport.
4. Qinglong Manchu Autonomous County: it is famous for Qinglong apples. The apples produced are good in quality, high in sugar content and unique in taste, especially the “Longfu” brand Red Fuji apple, which was rated a national famous brand at the 2001 China International Agricultural Exposition and won the honorary title of “Hebei Province Famous Brand” in 2006.
5. Yantai City: it is famous for Yantai apples, one of Shandong's famous premium specialties, with five major characteristics: well-formed fruit, smooth fruit surface, bright color, juicy and refreshing, and crisp flesh. In May 2011 it obtained the geographical indication certification trademark issued by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce.
6. Qixia City: it is famous for Qixia apples. In the earliest period, Green Banana and Red Banana were the main varieties, after which Little Ralls Janet and Golden Delicious were also developed. Since the reform and opening up, Red Fuji, Jonagold and others have been introduced. The apples produced are known for being large and well-shaped, brightly colored, good in smoothness, moderately sweet and sour, and fragrant and crisp.
The above is an introduction to apple varieties and China's hometowns of apples. We hope it is useful to everyone.