Stemilt Growers’ Piñata Apples: Review

Another new apple falls from the tree: exploding with flavor, Stemilt Growers’ exclusive apple variety returns to stores nationwide. Piñata apples!

Piñata apples are grown in Washington state by the Mathison family and a few select Stemilt growers.

A cross between Golden Delicious and two heirloom varieties from Europe – Cox’s Orange Pippin and the Duchess of Oldenburg, Piñata is a high sugar, high acid apple with a satisfyingly juicy crunch, classic apple flavors, and a unique tropical twist.

Piñata is a result of nearly two decades of development at the apple-breeding program in Dresden-Pillnitz, Germany. Following its release in Europe, the apple quickly made a name for itself under the names Pinova and Sonata, and was even selected as the 2001 Apple of the Year in Germany.

In 2004, Stemilt Growers, a leading tree fruit grower/marketer based in Wenatchee, WA, purchased the exclusive rights to grow and market this apple in the United States and changed its name to Piñata in order to better convey the apple’s stimulating attributes.

Beyond its snazzy name and heirloom heritage, Piñata is one of the most versatile apples available today. The crisp and juicy texture makes it great for eating fresh out-of-hand, while its ability to resist browning when sliced means it’s an ideal choice for fresh salads. Piñata has the same thin skin and fine-grained texture as a Golden Delicious, which means it doesn’t break down when exposed to high temperatures for cooking. To find recipes, click here.

Piñata is also a social apple, so be sure to become a fan of it on Facebook  and Flickr!

To find out where Piñata apples are available in 2011, visit this independent blog that is tracking the apple. They are being distributed now through March, so click to see where you might find some!

About Stemilt: Stemilt Growers is a leading tree fruit growing, packing and shipping company based in Wenatchee, Washington. Owned and operated by the Mathison family, Stemilt is the leading shipper of sweet cherries and the largest supplier of organic tree fruits in the nation. Stemilt has also demonstrated a commitment to sustainable agriculture and social responsibility since 1989, when founder Tom Mathison launched the company’s Responsible Choice program.

We were sent a case of Piñata apples for review, what a neat surprise this was at my doorstep! I knew what I wanted to make with them before they even arrived, Dorie Greenspan's Alsatian Apple Tart, which I blogged about here. These apples are a medium-large size, crisp, juicy and sweet just how I like my apples! They reminded me of Fuji's and Gala apples, but better! The kids are loving them too, in fact I had to hide a few for my recipe and photos so they wouldn't eat them. You can buy your own Piñata apples if you can't find them at your store, right here!

I wrote this review for "Mommy? I'm Hungry!" about Piñata Apples. I received free product to keep for this review from Stemilt Growers. All opinions for this review are that of myself & family. Product info & stock images provided by PR or Co.