It is already mentioned in the Bible, the apple is a symbol of knowledge in this book of books. Nevertheless, we consider it the most common and most accessible type of fruit that everyone can have on their table. And they certainly should – even one small apple can do wonders.
Apples come from Kazakhstan, where wild apple trees, which are genetic ancestors of today's varieties, still grow freely. Even the name of the Kazakh city Alma-Ata means "father of apples." The apple reached Europe via the Silk Road – traders and travellers gradually brought it through the Caucasus and the Middle East all the way to Greece and Rome. The Romans spread the cultivation of apple trees throughout Europe, including the territory of today's Slovakia.
Did you know that there are more than 7,500 varieties of apples in the world? Small, large, green, red, sweet, and sour – there is something for everyone. The largest producer of apples is China, followed by the USA and Poland. The apple made it not only into the biblical paradise and onto the logo of a famous computer company, but also into space – in 2015, astronauts on the ISS enjoyed fresh apples delivered by a supply ship. The largest apple weighed more than 1.8 kg and was grown by Chinese farmer Chisato Iwasaki.
The apple has great nutritional power – it contains vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants. In English, they say "an apple a day keeps the doctor away," which we could paraphrase as "one apple a day protects against the doctor." The apple has a high fiber content (pectin), which improves bowel function, supports digestion, and has a positive effect on healthy gut microflora. Thanks to flavonoids, polyphenols, and fiber, it lowers cholesterol and blood pressure and is thus a good prevention of cardiovascular diseases. It can stabilize blood sugar levels, which is favourable in the prevention of type 2 diabetes. It contains vitamin C, B vitamins, potassium, and other minerals, thus supporting immunity. Thanks to antioxidants, it reduces the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's disease and protects against oxidative stress. Since the apple is 85% water, it hydrates and contributes to fluid intake. It is also a popular food for those who want to maintain a slim figure. It is low in calories – one apple has approximately 50 – 70 kcal.
You can enjoy apples in many ways. The healthiest way is, of course, fresh – as a quick snack, it is also suitable for fruit and vegetable salads, or as a smoothie. Baby food is also made from apples, which is loved not only by toddlers. The apple is also a great ingredient for desserts – an apple strudel, apple pie, muffins, crumble cake, or apple pudding will delight many a sweet tooth. We also make compotes and jams from apples at home and dry them as a healthy snack. Thanks to their pectin content, apples are used in the food industry to thicken marmalades and jams. Apples are used to make not only must or cider, but also apple cider vinegar, which has a long tradition in natural medicine. Not everyone knows the savoury use of apples – in stuffings for roasted poultry and pork or in sauces for game. However, anyone who tries it will confirm that the taste of apples can be quite refined.
For processing apples, you can use, for example, these Orava brand appliances – the low-speed juicer Orava Taurus-2 and the fruit, vegetable, mushroom, and herb dryer Orava SU-106.
Prepare with us Apple Pie, Pork with Apples, and Apple-Cinnamon Smoothie.
Ingredients: 3 large apples, 200 g medium coarse flour, 150 g sugar (or cane sugar), 2 eggs, 100 ml oil, 100 ml milk, 1 baking powder, cinnamon to taste
Method:
Ingredients: 500 g pork tenderloin or loin, 2 large apples, 1 onion, 2 tbsp butter or oil, 150 ml white wine or broth, salt, black pepper, thyme
Method:
Ingredients: 2 apples, 150 ml white yogurt ( or plant-based), 1 banana, ½ tsp ground cinnamon, a little honey to taste
Method:
We wish you bon appétit!
Photo: Orava, pexels.com
