The Rave Apple is Nothing to Rave About
But it's a taste of fall in the summer.
Marketing works. I was looking for apples to review at my local grocery store, being bored by the usual cast of characters, when I saw a sign for "Rave Apples." Okay, I'll bite.
Unsurprisingly, the Rave Apple is yet another one of the Honeycrisp's many children. It's a cross between Honeycrisp and MonArk apples, and it's also sold under the "First Kiss" brand name. Like the Honeycrisp itself, Rave Apples were developed by the fine folks at the University of Minnesota.
Like Father, Like Son
Using the Honeyscrisp to make a new apple variety feels like a cheat code. I almost didn't want the Rave Apple to be good out of principle, but of course it is. The bad news is it's kinda just copying dear old dad. This is an apple that doesn't have its own identity.
The Rave Apple has a crispy crunch, very soft flesh, skin that disappears in your mouth, and a strong flavor. In comparison to a Honeycrisp, they seem to be smaller and less uniform. The flavor is both very sweet and very tart—bordering on harsh. There's really not much happening here in the flavor and texture department that's special.
So why cross a Honeycrisp and a MonArk to begin with? MonArk Apples are ready to be picked in early August, which is a solid month before many other apples, including Honeycrisp, are ready. It's sorta like preseason football—still football, but not the real thing.
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.
Like the Honeycrisp, this isn't my favorite type of apple to dip in peanut butter. It's too sweet, and the soft flesh isn't great for slices. I'm not going to say it's "bad" with peanut butter, but the Rave Apple is best eaten on its own.
The Final Bite
Look, I get it. Honeycrisp Apples are very good and everyone loves them. But it feels like the apple community is going back to the same well a bit too much. Sometimes it works, like with the SweeTango, but this time it's derivative.
As mentioned, the cool thing about Rave Apples is they're harvested in the summer. If you only eat in-season apples, and you love Honeycrisp Apples, Rave can be your appetizer. But when both are in season, Honeycrisp is clearly the one to pick.
