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Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Ever wonder about those Grapples?
They appeared on grocery shelves a few years ago - a fruit that crunches like a Washington apple, but tastes like a grape. They call it a Grapple, which, according to the Grapple website, is pronounced “grape-l”. (Try as I might to remember this, I still find myself making it rhyme with apple.)
They come in clear plastic clamshell cases of four, and look just like regular medium-sized apples - mostly because they are regular medium-sized apples. But more on that in a second.
Ever since I found out about them, I’ve been curious (which, you can imagine, is just what the Grapple people want), but not curious enough to pay more than I would for four apple-flavored apples.
It wasn’t until last week that I finally caved and brought back a four-pack from the store. I’ve been trying to work more fruit into my diet, so why not try something new?
My husband was the brave one to take the first bite. His reaction? “Hmmm - it kind of tastes like grape.”
And I agree. Upon biting into the Grapple, my first thought was not grape. It does taste a little different, but I bet if I had not been told it was grape flavoring, I could not have guessed right away. To me, it seemed the grape flavor was stronger in the skin than in the flesh of the Grapple.
So what exactly is a Grapple? According to the website, it is an apple that has been injected with natural and artificial grape flavoring. It’s not, as some might think, a hybrid between a grape and an apple, nor is it genetically modified or engineered in any way. The flavor is injected after the apples are fully grown and harvested. They were patented as a brand of apple (not a different species) in 2005.
Have you tried a Grapple? What did you think? What other fruit flavors would make good combinations? Bonus points for clever names!
