In the fairy tale Snow White, the evil Queen poisons her through an apple that turns black after being dipped in poison, before being given to Snow White. Black apples actually exist in the world.
The Black Diamond Apple, is a rare variety from the Hua Niu apple family which is also known as the Chinese Red Delicious. This naming is actually a bit misleading because the apple color is not really black, but rather has a dark purple hue.
Quoted from Today, Tuesday (9/10/2021) these apples can have a unique color thanks to their original geographic location in Nyingchi, a small town in the mountains of Tibet. In this region, apple trees receive an abundance of ultraviolet light during the day, but temperatures fluctuate dramatically at night. This causes the skin of the apple to darken, but the flesh inside remains white and bright like other apples.
In addition to Tibet, the United States (US) also has a darker type of apple called Arkansas Black. Although not too dark, this apple is deeper in color than the Chinese Red Delicious.
"Arkansas Black apples must be stored first so that they taste good. It takes a long time to develop the taste," says Norm Schultz, a farmer in Linvilla Orchards, Pennsylvania, USA.
Usually, explains Schultz, Arkansas Black apples are picked in the fall, at the same time as other apples are being harvested. But the apple is quite sour if eaten directly after being picked from the tree.
However, after being stored for several months, the taste of this apple will develop to be sweeter. The hard flesh of the fruit is softened so that it is more delicious to eat.
The time investment in developing this type of apple is significant when compared to other types of apples that are easier to harvest. Plus, farmers don't always make the most of it, whether they're in the US or the remote mountains of Tibet. About 70% of the annual output of a Black Diamond or Arkansas Black is not marketed successfully.
"It's only natural that many apple growers don't like growing this unusual plant, because it takes five to eight years to get to the fruit, and these apples don't sell well in the market," says botanist Mark Veeder.
Is this apple more nutritious than other apples? Not really. Nutritionist Bonnie Taub-Dix says, although Black Diamond or Arkansas Black apples offer crispy, sweet flesh and a unique color, they don't have a higher nutritional value than most commercial apple varieties.
"An average apple provides 4 grams of fiber, about 100 calories and contains a flavonoid called epicatechin, which has been shown to reduce blood pressure and support heart health. Apples have also been shown to be anti-inflammatory and filling," he says.
Because of that, this black apple has no more selling value other than its unique color. Although Black Diamond is nutritionally the same as apples in general, it is expensive because it is produced in a very limited timeframe and is usually only available for two months each year. In China, these apples are only sold in high-end supermarkets, usually in gift boxes.
