Apple review: SugarBee
Nov. 14th, 2018 03:17 pmThis is a relatively new apple; it's a random Honeycrisp cross, and Honeycrisp is not my favorite, but I'll try any apple once. The website is pretty much what you'd expect.
The website asks me to "watch a short film" to "learn more about the growing process, taste qualities, and future of the SugarBee® apple," and I don't want to, so all I know is that it's "a crisp, juicy and outrageously sweet apple."
Adam has more to say:
Verdict: Very crisp and juicy, definitely, and quite sweet -- I'll have to agree with Adam that it's too sweet. There is some complexity to the flavor, which I appreciate, with a bit of floral/melon stuff going on, but I'd give anything for a bit of tartness. That said, it certainly wasn't unpleasant to eat, and the aftertaste is ever so slightly tart-sweet, which leaves me with a good impression.
Buy again? I won't seek it out, but I wouldn't object to eating another. But I doubt I'll see many this year -- it's so new it's barely in wide release yet.
How did this variety come about? Well, the name says it all. The SugarBee™ is a product of “open cross pollination”, meaning a bee decided to get friendly and visit a couple different apple trees. Of course, there is a more technical definition, but you get the idea.Sounds kinky.
The website asks me to "watch a short film" to "learn more about the growing process, taste qualities, and future of the SugarBee® apple," and I don't want to, so all I know is that it's "a crisp, juicy and outrageously sweet apple."
Adam has more to say:
The bite unleashes a clean breaking crunch, with coarse, juicy yellow flesh. SugarBee is very sweet but with a sense of rich saturated flavors. I say "sense of" because the sugar obscures individual tastes. Nonetheless, there is a distinct honeydew note that is especially prominent in the finish, and a generic floral quality throughout. There is also some gingery spice, some confectioner's sugar, and hints of something close to caramel in the sweetness. Most tantalizing is a heady, almost alcoholic quality in the heart of the bite, as if something had imbued each mouthfull with a micro-shot of Pommeau.Let's see how mine compares...
Although I am personally a little put off by the sugar level, this variety is impressive for its winning crunch and richness of flavor. And of course super sweetness is no bar to commercial success in this business; far from it.
Verdict: Very crisp and juicy, definitely, and quite sweet -- I'll have to agree with Adam that it's too sweet. There is some complexity to the flavor, which I appreciate, with a bit of floral/melon stuff going on, but I'd give anything for a bit of tartness. That said, it certainly wasn't unpleasant to eat, and the aftertaste is ever so slightly tart-sweet, which leaves me with a good impression.
Buy again? I won't seek it out, but I wouldn't object to eating another. But I doubt I'll see many this year -- it's so new it's barely in wide release yet.
