September 22nd is both the start of the autumn equinox here in the Northern Hemisphere and also Hobbit Day as it is both Bilbo and Frodo Baggins’ birthdays per J.R.R. Tolkein. Because of this joyous combination, our little family of three decided we would celebrate by having a “Hobbit feast” for dinner that night. My husband fried up some bacon and sausage links, I sliced brie and cheddar cheese and several apples to go with the loaf of artisanal bread he and our daughter Iva had picked up at the store earlier. We had a fall scented candle burning, sparkling grape juice, and a fun hobbity playlist playing over the kitchen speaker. It was a fabulous meal, and while we were eating Iva asked me where apples come from. I had no idea, and thought it would make a nice article this month!
We have loved apples pretty much as long as we have existed as a species. Apple seeds have been found in archaeological sites dating back to as far as 10,000 years ago. Apples feature prominently in Norse, Greek, Roman and German mythology and are even mentioned in the Bible with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. As late as the 17th century it has been discovered that virtually any fruit or nut was called an “appel” of some variety, with “appel of paradise” as an example for what they called bananas.
The word “apple” comes from “aplaz” which is Proto-Germanic and stems from the Proto-Indo-European word “hébõl”. In Latin, the word for apple is “malum” which means “evil” and is considered the source for some of the apple’s darker reputation. The full scientific name for apple is Malus domestica which I think is pretty neat.
Scholars believe that apples originated in central Asia and made their way across the world through both human and animal routes. It is believed that apples grew so large to attract ancient megafauna who spread the seeds as they migrated. As the megafauna died off, apples required a different mode of transportation to reproduce. Humans stepped into this role both intentionally and unintentionally with the Silk Road being a major source of apple trade and cultivation throughout the world.
Apples made their way to North America in the 1600s along with the colonists from Europe. While a few species of crabapples existed before then, early settlers from England brought their own cultivars to grow in American soil. Even with special plants from England, the apples they consumed and made cider with back then would be subpar to the beautiful fruits we have today.
There are more than 7500 cultivars or types of apples today. Over the years we have bred them for their color, size, taste, and use in our kitchens. We have cultivars of apples best used for cooking, eating raw, and making cider among other things. Everyone has their own opinions of which apple makes the best pie, but my humble opinion is that Granny Smith apples do the trick quite nicely.
Apples feature prominently in mythology both in positive and negative lights. In Norse mythology the goddess Idunn provides apples to the gods to grant them eternal youthfulness. Hera in Greek mythology has a similar tree in her garden that produced golden apples what gave those that tasted them immortality. In Arthurian legends we have Avalon which means Isle of Apples. Some of the more seedy (pun intended) moments in apple history include the famous bite from Eve in the Bible, and the similar bite from Snow White in the familiar Grimms fairy tale. If you’re super quiet and clever, you may even see a unicorn prancing underneath an apple tree in the morning mist–they have been rumored to live in their shade.
There are many health benefits one can receive from apples. They support the circulatory and nervous systems as well as being high in fiber and beneficial to the liver. They are good for easing heartburn and upset stomachs. The fact that they release sugar in a timed manner makes them a sweet yet healthy snack that helps maintain blood sugar levels.
Whether you are enjoying your apples in pie form, fresh off the tree or in a mulled cider this autumn, I hope you pause a moment and think about how ancient a tradition it is to enjoy. Happy snacking!
