Topaz Apples
Estimated Inventory, lb : 0
Description/Taste
Topaz apples are a medium to large varietal and have an oblate, compressed shape with curved edges and a flat top and bottom. The apple’s skin is somewhat thin, semi-glossy, and slightly ribbed, with a few tan lenticels scattered across the surface. The skin also has a golden yellow-green base, mostly seen at the top of the fruit around the stem cavity, and is covered in crimson to dark red blush and striping. Underneath the surface, the cream-colored to ivory flesh is dense, aqueous, firm, and coarse, creating a crisp and crunchy consistency. The flesh also encases a small fibrous central core filled with tiny black-brown seeds. Topaz apples release a subtly sweet, floral, and vegetal aroma and will have an initially sharp flavor that mellows over time. Freshly harvested Topaz apples contain a sweet-tart taste with robust spice, acidity, and sugar nuances. As the apples are kept in storage, their clean, tart flavor will soften, becoming sweeter and milder.
Seasons/Availability
Topaz apples are available in the mid-fall through winter.
Current Facts
Topaz apples, botanically classified as Malus domestica, are a modern cultivar belonging to the Rosaceae family. The late-season apples were developed in the late 20th century in the Czech Republic and were released as a variety suitable for commercial cultivation and home gardening. Topaz apples have a distinct, sweet, and sharp flavor and firm texture created for versatility in fresh or cooked preparations. The variety is also fast-growing, resistant to diseases such as mildew and scab, and hardy, leading the cultivar to become a favored tree among apple enthusiasts. Topaz apples are commercially grown on a small scale, and several sports have been created since the original apple’s release, marketed under the names Crimson Topaz and Red Topaz.
Nutritional Value
Topaz apples are a source of fiber to regulate the digestive tract, potassium to balance fluid levels within the body, and calcium to protect bones and teeth. The apples also provide vitamin C to strengthen the immune system while reducing inflammation, vitamin A to maintain healthy organ functioning and contain other nutrients, including iron, vitamin E, magnesium, boron, zinc, copper, and vitamin K.
Applications
Topaz apples have a sweet, tart, and tangy flavor well suited for fresh and cooked preparations. Raw Topaz apples are popularly consumed straight out of hand and are valued for their juicy flesh that is slow to oxidize once cut. The apples provide added texture in green salads, slaws, and fruit bowls, or they can be chopped into salsa, sliced and dipped in nut butter, or layered into sandwiches and burgers. The sharp and clean flavor of the apples also complements flavors found on cheese boards, added as a fresh topping on oatmeal, or used as a crisp layer on bite-sized appetizers with creamy dips and crackers. In addition to fresh preparations, Topaz apples can be incorporated into various sweet and savory cooked dishes and develop a milder, sweeter nature when heated. The apples can be baked into cobblers, crisps, scones, tarts, bread, muffins, pies, and cakes, hollowed and baked with spices and dried fruits, sauteed in brown butter, cinnamon, and brown sugar, or wrapped in pie dough and baked as a rich dessert. Topaz apples can also be utilized in savory dishes, roasted with meat as a side dish, minced into stuffing, pureed and cooked into soups, or baked with root vegetables. Beyond culinary preparations, Topaz apples can be peeled and slow-cooked to make applesauce, preserves, and apple butter, pureed into sauces, infused into vinegar and syrups or pressed into juice for cocktails, sparkling beverages, and smoothies. The apples can also be dried into rings, known as keizaly in Czech, and consumed as a stand-alone snack, topping for cereal and oatmeal, or used as an edible decoration for beverages. Topaz apples pair well with nuts such as walnuts, pecans, almonds, and pine, spices including cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice, vanilla, salted caramel, brown sugar, honey, maple syrup, cranberries, and leafy greens. Whole, unwashed Topaz apples will keep for several weeks when stored in the refrigerator’s crisper drawer. In professional cold storage, Topaz apples will keep up to four months.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Topaz apples are popularly baked into strudel in the Czech Republic. Strudel is a traditional pastry inspired by Turkish baklava and was developed after baklava’s introduction into Central Europe sometime after the mid-15th century. Recipes for the layered puff pastry were first recorded in the late 15th century, and strudels were filled with various ingredients ranging from savory to sweet. The name strudel officially appeared on a recipe in 1696, and the term was derived from a German word roughly translating to mean “whirlpool,” a descriptor of the strudel’s layered, swirled filling. Over time, strudels became a favored pastry throughout Europe, especially in the Czech Republic, and are known as zavin or jablecny strudl in Czech. Topaz apples are thinly sliced, combined with sugar, raisins, and cinnamon, and wrapped in layers of dough to create a savory-sweet, decadent dessert. Apple strudel is commonly served throughout the Czech Republic at coffee shops and cafes, but it is also a customary dessert offered during Czech Christmas celebrations.
Geography/History
Topaz apples were developed at The Institute of Experimental Botany in the Czech Republic. The variety was created from a cross in the 1990s between two Czech apples, Rubin and Vanda, and was introduced to commercial markets in 2001. Topaz apple’s parent varieties also come from a well-known lineage of famous apple cultivars. Rubin was created from a cross between Golden Delicious and Lord Lambourne, while Vanda also has Lord Lambourne roots. Today Topaz apples have been introduced to apple markets worldwide and are commercially cultivated on a small scale in Europe and the United States. They are also planted in home gardens in North America, Europe, South Africa, and Australia. When in season, Topaz apples are sold through local farm stands, markets, and specialty retailers.
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Topaz Apples. One
is easiest, three is harder.| AIP Sisterhood |
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Sage, Apply & Pork Breakfast Skillet |
| Kitchen Concoctions |
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Sausage and Apple Crepes |
| Half Baked Harvest |
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Apple Butter and Sage Pork Chops |
