Apples have been a very important food in all cooler climates. To a greater degree than other tree fruit, except possibly citrus, apples store for months while still retaining much of their nutritive value. Winter apples, picked in late fall and stored just above freezing in a root cellar or fruit room have been an important food in Europe and the USA since the 1800s.
There are more than 7,500 known cultivars of apples. Cultivars are available for subarctic, subtropical, and temperate climates. Apples do not flower in tropical climates because they have a chilling requirement. Tastes in apples vary from one person to another and have changed over time. As an example, the state of Washington (United States) made its reputation for apple growing on Red Delicious. But in recent years other cultivars have steadily grown in popularity; some Americans have come to regard Red Delicious as an inferior apple of excessively mild flavor and excessively soft texture. Such people have gravitated toward crisper apples such Fuji and Gala.
In some cultures, the apple is a symbol of immortality, love, or sexuality. In ancient Greece, throwing an apple at a person's bed was an invitation for sexual intercourse. Celtic mythology includes a story about Conle who receives an apple which feeds him for a year but also makes him irresistibly desire fairyland. Another story claims that if an apple is peeled into one continuous ribbon and thrown behind a woman's shoulder, it will land in the shape of the future husband's initials. Danish folklore says that apples wither around adulterers.
Apple Nutrition Facts: Calories, Carbs, and Health Benefits
Apple is 85.56% water, contains 13.81% carbohydrates, 0.17% fat, and 0.26% protein. One medium apple supplies you with 25.134 grams of carbohydrates, which is 19.33 percent of the minimum of 130 grams of carbohydrates you should have daily, according to the Institute of Medicine (US). That same it has an energy value of 218 kJ (52 Calories) in a 100 g (3.5 Oz) amount and is not rich in vitamins. It contains low amount of minerals.
