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Grapples

Apples take a bath
in grape juice

If you've ever wondered what an apple and grape would taste like as one fruit, wonder no more. Enter the Grapple, a new fruit product that begs the question, why?

The basics: The grapple, pronounced Grape-L with a long A sound, appeared in markets a year or two ago to mixed reviews. It's described as an apple that tastes like a grape.

At first, it was mistaken for a hybrid -- a cross between an apple and a grape. But the Grapple is simply a Fuji apple that's been soaked in artificial grape flavoring. No added sugars or ingredients are used in the process.

The result is a Fuji apple that tastes as though it has been pumped with grape juice. The flavoring tastes very artificial, however, similar to Kool-Aid or a grape popsicle.

What's next? Strapple (strawberry-flavored), Crapple (cranberry-flavored), or how about an apple that tastes like pineapple? Would that be a Papple?

Selecting: Grapples are packed and sold four to a container. The clear plastic container is unique and could be described as an egg carton for apples. They are sold near regular apples in the produce section of supermarkets.

Storing: Grapples should be stored in the refrigerator and will keep for several weeks, like regular apples.

Use: Eat Grapples as is or slice them into a fruit salad. The producers of Grapples, Get Fit Foods in Washington state, also suggest enjoying them with various cheeses. Their research suggests that kids really enjoy the fruit and thus it makes an ideal snack.

Where to buy: Grapples can be found in most supermarkets and Asian markets on a periodic basis. They are also a bit expensive -- $4 to $5 for a pack of four. But if you love the combination, this might just be the fruit for you. For the price, though, I'd rather sprinkle my apple slices with li hing powder.