Pirouette® Apples
Estimated Inventory, lb : 0
Description/Taste
Pirouette® apples vary in size, depending on the growing conditions, but are generally a medium to large varietal with a round, conical, to slightly flattened shape. The fruit’s shoulders are broad and flat, tapering to a narrow base, and the stems are long, slender, green-brown, and woody. Some apples feature faint russeting in the stem cavity, occasionally spilling onto the fruit’s shoulders. The skin is semi-thin, taut, and mostly smooth, ripening to a golden yellow-green coloring covered in a bright red, orange-red, to dark red blush. The blush is often seen blurred or striped, and the amount of blush enveloping the surface depends on sun exposure during cultivation. Underneath the surface, the yellow flesh is firm, dense, aqueous, and crisp with a crunchy, succulent consistency. The flesh also encases a central fibrous core filled with black-brown seeds. Pirouette® apples are aromatic once ripe and are edible raw, bearing a balanced, sweet, and sour flavor. The variety’s sugar content complements its moderate acidity levels, creating a bright, tangy taste mixed with subtly spiced undertones.
Seasons/Availability
Pirouette® apples are typically harvested in the fall between the end of September and mid-October. Once picked, the apples are stored and sold throughout the winter into mid-spring.
Current Facts
Pirouette® apples, botanically classified as Malus domestica, are a European variety belonging to the Rosaceae family. The mid to late season cultivar is an improved variety derived from Rubin apples and is also commonly known in commercial markets under the name Rubinstep. Pirouette® apples were selected for cultivation for their balanced sweet and sour flavor, crisp texture, and extended storage capabilities. Growers also favor the variety for their disease resistance, making them a popular tree among organic orchards, and the ability to produce high yields of flavorful fruits. Since their release in the early 21st century, Pirouette® apples have become a specialty variety sold through European markets as a fresh eating and cooking cultivar.
Nutritional Value
Pirouette® apples have not been studied for their nutritional properties. Apples, in general, are a source of vitamins A, C, E, and K. These vitamins help the body maintain healthy organ functions, strengthen the immune system, guard the cells against free radical damage, and aid in faster wound healing. Apples also provide fiber to regulate and improve digestion and contain minerals, including phosphorus, magnesium, copper, iron, and potassium. Phosphorus supports bone and teeth development, while magnesium controls nerve functions. Copper helps to produce red blood cells, iron develops the protein hemoglobin for oxygen transport through the bloodstream, and potassium balances fluid levels and replenishes electrolytes in the body.
Applications
Pirouette® apples have a sweet and sour flavor suited for fresh and cooked preparations. The variety has a firm, crisp, and juicy texture, making it a favored apple to eat out of hand as a snack or as a topping over oatmeal and parfaits. Pirouette® apples are also sliced and served on cheese boards, chopped into salads, or mixed into fruit medleys. In addition to fresh preparations, Pirouette® apples are baked into cakes, buns, and scones or cooked into fillings for pancakes, crumbles, and pies. In France, the variety is popularly simmered into applesauce and apple butter or used to flavor jams and compotes for pastries and baked goods. Other regions of Europe, including the Czech Republic and Norway, incorporate Pirouette® apples into savory dishes like soups, fish, and other roasted meat dishes. While less common, the variety can be blended into smoothies and fruit juices or baked into thinly sliced chips as a chewy snack. Pirouette® apples pair well with spices such as cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg, nuts including almonds, pecans, and walnuts, raisins, maple syrup, brown sugar, and fennel. Whole, unwashed Pirouette® apples will keep for several weeks to months in a cool, dry, and dark place such as a cellar or the refrigerator’s crisper drawer.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Pirouette® apples are famously nicknamed the Christmas apple and the Winter apple in Norway. Historically, Norway imports over 80% of its apple supply, and efforts are being made to find varieties that can be grown in the country’s cooler climate. Rubinstep apples, the name used in Norway for Pirouette® apples, were introduced to Norwegian orchards around the beginning of the 21st century and have been extensively evaluated and trialed through university programs. The variety has been deemed successful since its introduction into Norway and is also favored for its high yields and extended storage properties. This long storage quality has allowed Rubinstep apples to be sold throughout the Christmas season. The typical apple season in Norway ends in November, so new varieties, like the Rubinstep, allow the fruits to be sold for extended periods. Apples are notably used in side dishes and desserts in traditional Norwegian holiday recipes. Candied or glazed apples are a beloved treat sold at Christmas markets, and apples are also served as an accompaniment to ribbe or roasted pork belly, the most popular meal served on Christmas Eve.
Geography/History
Pirouette® apples were developed in the Czech Republic at the Research and Breeding Institute of Pomology in the municipality of Holovousy. The variety was created from a cross between Rubin and Clivia apples sometime in the late 20th century and was officially registered as a new cultivar in 2003. Pirouette® apples were initially called Rubinstep apples, a name derived from their Rubin parentage, and were commercially released as an improved apple with extended storage capabilities. Since their release, Pirouette® apples have been notably found in Norway, where they were introduced and planted for evaluations in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The variety was also spread across Europe and has become established in France. Today, Pirouette® apples are increasing in notoriety and availability but are still somewhat of a specialty apple only found in specific European markets. When in season, the variety can be found through select fresh markets, grocers, and wholesalers.
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