The Curious Case of the Pink Lady Apple
When a name is more than a name.
Apples are so much more complicated than I thought. Take the Pink Lady Apple, for example. A classic apple that everyone knows, right? But the Pink Lady you know might not be the Pink Lady someone else knows.
See, for most apples, things are pretty straightforward. An Opal Apple is Golden Delicious + Topaz; Envy is Braeburn + Gala; Hunnzy is Honeycrisp + Crimson Crisp, etc. I touched on this a bit in my Wild Twist Apple review, but "Pink Lady" is not a genetic variety name—it's more like a badge.
Will the Real Pink Lady Please Stand Up?
Pink Lady Apples originated from "Cripps Pink" apples. They were named after their breeder, John Cripps, an Australian horticulturist. However, Cripps Pink Apples that meet certain quality standards are given the honor of being sold under the "Pink Lady" brand name.
Naturally, you would assume that means every Pink Lady is a Cripps Pink, but not every Cripps Pink is a Pink Lady. Sort of a Oreo vs "sandwich cookie" situation. But it's really not that simple. From Wikipedia:
Rosy Glow and Lady in Red have been accepted by APAL [Apple and Pear Australia Limited] and Pink Lady America into the Pink Lady business model, allowing fruit of the improved variety, which meets the Pink Lady quality criteria, to be sold as Pink Lady brand apples.
So, there are actually three different types of apples than can be sold as "Pink Lady:" Cripps Pink, Rosy Glow, and Lady in Red. Those other two apples are mutations of the Cripps Pink. It's one big weird apple family.
But How Do They Taste?
Essentially, only the best Cripps Pink Apples (and Rosy Glow and Lady in Red) get to be called Pink Lady. That means they should be pretty awesome, right? You would be correct. I was actually surprised by how much I liked the Pink Lady.
This is the first really good sour apple I've tried so far. Granny Smiths are only tart, and Lemonade Apples are more acidic, but Pink Ladies are just right. They have a great blend of sweet and sour that makes them more refreshing than most apples.
The flavor is almost like a dry hard cider, which is a perfect analogy. Dry ciders are sometimes called "crushable" because you can easily drink more than one without being overwhelmed with sweetness. Pink Lady Apples are crushable. They're crunchy, firm, juicy, and perfectly balanced.
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.
Yeah, these rock with peanut butter. The sourness gets tamped down a bit by the rich peanut butter, but it's still there. The only real downside is Pink Lady slices get brown pretty quick. Not a problem if you eat as quickly as I do.
The Final Bite
It's weird to think that you could be eating one of three different apples every time you bite into a Pink Lady. Thankfully, the quality control seems to be top notch, because Pink Lady Apples are remarkably consistent.
If you're looking for an apple that packs a punch in flavor, you shouldn't overlook the classic Pink Lady. The balanced sweet and sour makes them incredibly refreshing and easy to eat. I guess it make sense that each Pink Lady is essentially wearing a blue ribbon.
