The Cheapest Apple at Costco Is Also My Favorite
A bagged apple worthy of Envy
At my local Costco, there are typically four varieties of apples available: Cosmic Crisp, Gala, Honeycrisp, and Envy. Being the cheapskate frugal man that I am, I had to buy the Envy Apples since they were the cheapest ($4.79/4 lbs). Boy am I glad I did.
An Envy Apple is a cross between a Braeburn and a Gala. The skin is usually dark red and it's covered in tiny little dots. This is one of the sweetest apples I've tried so far, but it's not simple. I was so fascinated by the flavor that I had to stop and really think about it.
The best way I can think to describe the flavor is to imagine fresh applesauce. That pure, juicy concentrated apple flavor. But unlike applesauce, the Envy Apple has a great crunch and density that provides a satisfying chewing experience. To round things out, I found that the skin mostly disappeared into the background, which is what you want.
I should also mention that the Envy Apple shares a superpower with the Opal Apple. It doesn't immediately turn brown the second you turn your back on it after slicing. Again, I think this makes it a perfect apple for school snacks and lunches.
The Peanut Butter Test
In case you didn't know, apple slices dipped in peanut butter is an elite snack. As part of this apple reviewing venture, I also want to find out which apple tastes best with peanut butter.
Sweet apples are generally not my jam when it comes to PB dippin', but the strong apple flavor of the Envy Apple makes up for it. It's bold enough to stand up and compliment the richness of peanut butter—but I'd still prefer something more tart.
The Final Bite
If you haven't figured it out yet, I like the Envy Apples quite a bit (though maybe not as much as the woman on the Envy website). We've gone through multiple bags of them since discovering. It's not quite as flashy as a SweeTango, but it's up there with the SugarBee as a solid daily go-to apple.
I was a late convert to Costco. For many years, I couldn't wrap my head around the idea of paying for the privilege of shopping at a store. But I get it now, and I'm happy to be visiting the Land of Kirkland for their apples.
