Fuji apples are so popular and abundant in Japan that the country hardly needs to import other varieties of this fruit. This NutriNeat article reveals the characteristic properties of these apples, which make them popular all over the world.
Declare Your Love with an Apple!
In ancient times, the popular way of proposing a girl in Greece was tossing an apple to her, and if she caught it, it was considered as a symbol of acceptance!
Fuji apples are known for their large size (average diameter of 75 mm), dense flesh, crispy texture, and sweetness. The name ‘Fuji’ refers to the Japanese town Fujisaki where the hybrid variety was developed in late 1930s, and is not connected in any way to Mt. Fuji. It is a hybrid of two American apple varieties, the Red Delicious and old Virginia Ralls Genet (also known as “Rawls Jennet”).
Even if you don’t refrigerate them, these delectable dessert apples remain fresh for a long time. And if you refrigerate them, they can be found fresh for up to one year. Thus, they have a very long shelf life. Moreover, the firmness of the flesh remains almost unchanged even after baking. Because of the juicy and sweet flesh, they are quite popular in Japan. There, they were made available in markets in the 1960s. Since then, these fine-textured, super sweet apples have gained tremendous popularity all over the world.
Nutritional Facts
Considering the syrupy sweetness and unusual crispiness of these apples, they are being cultivated in the US, since the 1980s. According to the USDA, here is a data chart revealing the nutrition packed in 1 cup sliced, raw Fuji apples with skin.
| Serving Size: 1 Cup (109 g) | |
| Water | 91.73 g |
| Calories | 69 kcal |
| Protein | 0.22 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 0.20 g |
| Carbohydrate | 16.59 g |
| Total Dietary Fiber | 2.3 g |
| Total Sugars | 12.73 g |
| Minerals | |
| Calcium | 8 mg |
| Iron | 0.11 mg |
| Magnesium | 5 mg |
| Phosphorus | 14 mg |
| Potassium | 119 mg |
| Sodium | 1 mg |
| Zinc | 0.04 mg |
| Vitamins | |
| Thiamin | 0.014 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.028 mg |
| Niacin | 0.076 mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.049 mg |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 2 µg |
| Vitamin A, IU | 41 IU |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.20 mg |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 1.1 µg |
✦ The nutrition data shows that Fuji apples are rich in potassium and low in sodium.
✦ They are also packed with other minerals like magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus.
✦ Despite being rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber, they are low in calories as compared to other foods. So, it is good to consume them as a morning or an afternoon snack, or you can add them to salads.
✦ They are high in sugar, and we are sure that children would love the sauce and pies made from these apples. Senior members of the family can enjoy the juice without adding sugar.
These days, various mutant cultivars of Fuji apples are available in the markets. Very soft apples or apples with dark spots should not be consumed. Good-quality Fuji apples have clean and smooth skin. The color is usually yellowish green with red tints. They can be red all over, or may have a pinkish or slightly reddish tint. Doctors always recommend apples in our diets, although they help keep the doctor away! If you are thinking of buying apples, Fuji would be a good choice as they are sweet like honey.
