Apple: Kiku

[redbird]

I just tried a new apple, Kiku, which was labeled as being from New Zealand. It's tasty in a mild sort of way, with a good crisp texture and reasonably juicy. It struck me as nicer than most of the apples I've had since moving to Washington, though that may be a seasonal problem: we got here in mid-April, so any North American apples will have been quite old. It's during or just after the New Zealand apple harvest season, and even with nitrogen storage there's a noticeable difference between a recently-picked apple and one six months old.

Based purely on looks, I guessed there was some Gala in this variety's ancestry, which is part of why I decided to try it: I like Gala. Something about Kiku reminded me of Macintosh, maybe the crispness, though it's not as flavorful as a good Macintosh or Macoun.

Yes, I am writing this based on eating one apple; if the other two we bought are significantly different I will revise the post. (While comments are welcome, a large part of the point of this is so, a year or three from now, I can search for the "apple" tag and see what I've tried.)

Comments

[replyhazy.livejournal.com]

Thought of you today when I tried a new-to-me apple called "Jazz." Very firm, crunchy, and yummy!

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

That's a great name for an apple.

[(Anonymous)]

What a coincidence! I was looking at what apple trees my local nursery has so I can think abut planting one in the fall, and this was a varietal that caught my eye. It's very hardy, a good bearer, and apparently is good for canning, freezing, as well as eating. But most intriguing is that it's used as a pollinator for some other varietiies I saw, which apparently need such in order to bear. So I may get one of these trees soon and see how it does!