Honey Apple

Lishan, Wuling Farm, Fushoushan Farm, Cingjing Farm and other places in the Greater Lishan area of ​​Taichung, Taiwan are the hometowns of Taiwan's alpine apples, and the main producing areas of honey apples are located in the mountains around Lishan and Fushoushan. Honey apple is not a variety of apple, but refers to apples with nectaries and nectar. The phenomenon that apples produce honey is because the sorbitol produced by photosynthesis is transferred to the apple fruit before the leaves of the apple tree fall. The later the apple is harvested, the more mature it is, and it is easier for the sorbitol to accumulate in the intercellular space of the apple tissue, and translucent dark yellow nectaries appear in the pulp around the fruit core. This phenomenon is called watercore. The reason why apples have "nectaries" is a survival mechanism for keeping out the cold. In high-altitude areas where the temperature difference between day and night is extremely large, the temperature changes greatly. In order to protect the seeds, the apple itself converts starch into honey to avoid frostbite.

The average altitude of the Greater Lishan area is over 2,000 meters, with an average temperature of 26℃ in summer and minus 4℃ in winter. Due to the large temperature difference between day and night, the sweetness and aroma of honey apples grown in Lishan are the best in Taiwan's temperate fruit producing areas. Lishan honey apples start to ripen in autumn, and the harvesting period is from the end of autumn to the beginning of winter. Apples with watercore are edible and not harmful to the human body. Apples with nectaries are particularly sweet to eat, with a sweet and crisp taste, but they have a shorter shelf life. Honey apples are also rich in protein, vitamins A, B, C, dietary fiber and other nutrients. Moreover, sorbitol does not cause tooth decay, and has a natural effect of enhancing intestinal peristalsis, which can have a laxative effect and relieve constipation.