They have a tart taste with little sweetness.
Cooking Tips
For cooking.
History Notes
Surprise Apples possibly originated in Turkey.
Some sources say they were first recorded in England in 1831. Some sources say they were brought to America in 1840 by German-speaking immigrants; other sources say they were being sold at nurseries in the American south by 1824.
In any event, the apple came to the attention of the apple breeder, Albert Etter in Humboldt County, California, USA.
He used it in his trials to develop pink-flesh apples.
It was used as a parent of Pink Pearl apples.