Apples are arguably the most popular fruits around the globe, with eyes lighting up in recognition whenever it’s mentioned. Since apples contain a bit of citric acid, is it right to say that they belong in the citrus family? Is apple citric?
Is an Apple a Citrus Fruit?
To answer the query ‘are apples citrus?’, they are not. However, apples belong in the fruit category. Apple may contain citric acid but they’re classified as Malus, while citrus fruits are classified as Citrus.
Apples need no introduction. Anyone, even a child, can identify the fruit based on its unique shape and appearance. Bite into an apple and you’ll get into a somewhat solid and crunchy flesh and a sweet taste. The skin of an apple is edible and has the same taste as the flesh.
Did you know that apples are in the same category as roses? It’s true. They belong to the pomaceous variety, where the word ‘pome’ describes the shape of an apple. These kinds of fruits will have small seeds located in their cores, which are subsequently surrounded by a good amount of flesh and finally, a tough skin. Examples of pomaceous fruits are crab apples, rowans, loquats, and pears.
Citrus fruits, on the other hand, are of the citrus genus and will usually have a thick and leathery skin. The flesh isn’t solid, but rather somewhat pulpy and juice readily comes out of it. To eat citrus, you will need to peel the skin and consume the pulp within.
Common examples of citrus fruits include grapefruit, lemon, and oranges. They have a high citric acid content, while apples belong in the low-acidic fruit variety.
Do Apples Have Citric Acid?
Although apples belong in the low-citric fruit category, they still contain a bit of citric acid. Other low-acidic fruit examples are grapes, pears, peaches and mangoes.
Citric acid or carboxylic acid is a weak and naturally-occurring acid that’s high in citrus fruits. Most of the time, fruits that are high in citric acid are sour, while those that are low are usually sweet. This is one way to tell citrus and apples apart- if you bite into the fruit and it’s sour, then it’s likely that you’re eating citrus fruit.
Apples are a part of the rose family while citrus fruits come from the citrus genus, which is flowering shrubs and trees. If you’re looking for a citric fruit, you’ll want to get oranges, lemons, berries, and grapefruits.
Is Green Apple Citric?
There are several kinds of apples that give off a dominant sour taste than sweet. Examples include green apples and Granny Smith apples. That said, are these apples citric or do they still belong to the malus species?
Any apple regardless of how sour it tastes will still belong to the pomaceous variety. The acid content of these apples is of the malic type, and the pH can go below that of orange juice. On the other hand, lime and lemons have a high citric acid content, hence their high level of sour taste.