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Shinano Gold apples are moderately sized, round to conical fruits with a uniform appearance. The skin is smooth, resistant to bruising, and firm, ripening from pale green to golden-yellow when mature, and is sometimes covered in small, brown spots. Underneath the surface, the flesh is fine-grained, aqueous, yellow, and crisp, encasing a central core filled with small, black-brown seeds. Shinano Gold apples are crunchy and have a robust, tropical aroma when sliced. The fruits are also known for their balanced, sweet-tart flavor and have low acidity with notes of citrus, honey, pineapple, and pear.
Seasons/Availability
Shinano Gold apples are available in the fall through winter in Japan.
Current Facts
Shinano Gold apples, botanically classified as Malus domestica, are a modern Japanese variety that belongs to the Rosaceae family. This cultivar is a cross between a golden delicious and a senshu, an older Japanese apple, and the name Shinano refers to an old province in Nagano, Japan, where the variety is cultivated. There are three main varieties of Shinano apples, including Shinano Gold, shinano sweet, and shinano red. Shinano Gold apples were developed to expand the yellow apple market and are an improved variety of the golden delicious apple. The bright yellow variety is highly favored in Japan as a dessert cultivar, but it has also seen commercial success in Italy, where it is valued for its balanced flavor, extended storage capabilities, and unique coloring.
Nutritional Value
Shinano Gold apples are an excellent source of fiber, which can help stimulate digestion. The apples also contain vitamin C, which is an antioxidant to boost the immune system and provide smaller amounts of potassium, calcium, and iron.
Applications
Shinano Gold apples are best suited for raw applications as their tropical aroma, and sweet, tangy flavor is showcased when consumed fresh, out-of-hand. The apples can be quartered and served with dips, cheeses, and nuts on appetizer plates, sliced and stirred into oatmeal, cereal, and yogurt, or chopped and tossed into green and fruit salads. Shinano Gold apples can also be baked into cakes, tarts, muffins, and strudels for a sweet flavor or blended into soups. Shinano Gold apples pair well with cheeses such as blue, gorgonzola, and parmesan, ginger, curry, vanilla, and nuts such as walnuts, almonds, and pistachios. The fresh apples will keep 1-4 weeks when stored in a cool, dry, and dark place such as the refrigerator.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Shinano Gold apples were introduced to commercial markets in Europe in 2005 under the name Yello®. The variety is primarily grown in South Tyrol, which is a province in Italy known for its apple production and was first released to European markets in 2015. Shinano Gold apples were renamed and trademarked to Yello® to highlight the apple’s unique golden hue and appeal to the European demographic. The variety is also heavily promoted as a specialty cultivar to expand the yellow apple market, and one notable feature of the fruit is the small label placed on the apple’s skin. The sticker depicts the fruit’s name in traditional Japanese writing, which is a subtle nod to the apple’s Asian origins.
Geography/History
Shinano Gold apples were bred in 1993 at the Nagano Fruit Tree Experiment Station in the Nagano prefecture in Japan. The variety was developed as an improved yellow apple cultivar, and today Shinano Gold apples are found in local markets in Japan and Europe. The variety is also being trialed in Australia and is being released in limited amounts to select commercial markets.
Shinano Gold apples, now branded as Yello®, are known for their smooth, golden-yellow skin that resists bruising and develops small brown spots when ripe. The fine-grained flesh is crisp, juicy, and yellow, offering a sweet-tart flavor with low acidity. They release a tropical aroma when sliced and have unique hints of citrus, honey, pineapple, and pear, showcasing a dynamic taste profile that appeals to a wide range of palettes.
Shinano Gold apples are not only delicious but also versatile. They can be enjoyed fresh in green or fruit salads, paired with dips, cheeses, and nuts, or even stirred into oatmeal and yogurt. For those with a sweet tooth, these apples can be baked into cakes, muffins, or tarts. They also pair wonderfully with blue cheese, gorgonzola, ginger, curry, and pistachios, offering endless culinary possibilities. When stored in a cool, dark place, they can remain fresh for 1–4 weeks.
Shinano Gold apples are a hybrid of golden delicious and senshu apples, belonging to the Rosaceae family. They are one of three Shinano varieties, alongside Shinano Sweet and Shinano Red. Rich in nutrition, they offer fiber for digestion and vitamin C for immune support, alongside trace amounts of potassium, calcium, and iron. Their bright yellow skin and balanced flavor add to their appeal both as a dessert favorite and a commercial success.
Shinano Gold apples were bred in 1993 at the Nagano Fruit Tree Experiment Station in Japan. This yellow apple variety was developed as an improved cultivar and is primarily found in local markets in Japan and Europe. It is also being trialed in Australia, where limited quantities are released to select commercial markets, highlighting its growing global reach.
Shinano Gold apples, rebranded as Yello®, were introduced to European markets in 2015, with South Tyrol, Italy, being the primary region for their cultivation. These apples feature a distinctive golden hue and a sticker on the skin showcasing the name in traditional Japanese writing, connecting the fruit to its Asian heritage. The Yello® brand is aimed at promoting yellow apples as a specialty cultivar, expanding their appeal within European markets.
Mitzukoshi Ginza Cold Storage
4 Chome-6-16 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-8212, Japan
Shinano Gold apples are characterized by their smooth and firm skin, which is resistant to bruising and transitions from pale green to golden-yellow when ripe. Their crisp, aqueous flesh offers a sweet-tart flavor with low acidity and hints of citrus, honey, pineapple, and pear. Known for their tropical aroma, these apples are also visually appealing thanks to occasional small, brown spots on their surface.
Shinano gold apples are in season at Tokyo farmer's market!. Shinano Gold apples are versatile and best enjoyed raw to showcase their tropical aroma and sweet, tangy flavor. They pair wonderfully with cheeses like gorgonzola and parmesan, nuts like walnuts, and spices such as curry and ginger. These apples can last up to four weeks if kept in a cool, dry, and dark place like your refrigerator.
Shinano Gold apples are in-season at Merida-Ya supermarket in Singapore ..Shinano Gold apples are a modern Japanese variety classified as Malus domestica. They were bred by crossing a golden delicious with a senshu apple and named after Shinano, a historic province in Nagano, Japan. These apples are known for their bright yellow hue, balanced flavor, and extended storage capabilities, making them popular as dessert apples in Japan and commercially successful in Italy.
Shinano Gold apples are in season at Isetan Tokyo ..Shinano Gold apples were bred in 1993 at the Nagano Fruit Tree Experiment Station in Japan's Nagano prefecture. Developed as an improved yellow apple cultivar, they are available in local markets in Japan and Europe. The variety is also undergoing trials in Australia and is being released in small quantities to select commercial markets, showcasing its growing global reach.