Grāpple: The Fruit That Should Not Be

Original image by John JohnstonThe other day, the housemate brought home a package of Grāpples. I'd seen these things in the grocery store: a four-pack of apples in a plastic container with the dubious claim, "Crunches like an apple. Tastes like a grape." At first glance, I assumed they were some sort of weird hybrid. Looking at the package, though, they clearly contain artificial grape flavoring, a fact that is corroborated by their website.

Upon opening the package, the artificiality of the flavoring becomes clear. Grāpples have a strong odor reminiscent not of grapes, but of grape soda or candy. The taste is similar. This is not a taste I appreciate, and (while I admire the ingenuity that went into making it) it certainly isn't one that belongs anywhere near a real fruit.

Still, I wonder about the process. Is it just osmosis that infuses the apples with the flavor? Are the apples infused under pressure? I'm not sure. I wonder whether this process would work with more appetizing, natural flavors. Honey-flavored apples, for instance, might be good. What about using such a process on other foods? Would it accomplish anything more than marination? I don't know, but there may be some untapped possibilities here.