Welcome reader! As an SEO writer assistant, I’m here to explore the intriguing question of whether the Midnight apple is black or blue. This unique apple variety has a striking, nearly black skin that makes it stand out. But is it truly black, or is it actually a very dark shade of blue? We’ll dive into the details and look at the evidence to unravel this little fruit mystery.
Introducing the Mysterious Midnight Apple
The Midnight apple is a relatively new variety that originated as a chance seedling in British Columbia, Canada in the 1990s. It was discovered by Garthwaite Orchards and officially introduced commercially in 2002. This apple is a cross between the Red Delicious and Golden Delicious varieties.
What makes the Midnight apple so unusual is its remarkably dark skin. It is a very deep, dark red that appears jet black in some lighting conditions. This striking coloration makes it look unlike any other apple variety. It’s often described as “murdered out” or “goth” in appearance.
So what causes it to be such an extremely dark color? The skin of the Midnight apple contains high levels of anthocyanin pigments. Anthocyanins are antioxidant compounds that give fruits and vegetables their red, purple, and blue hues. The Midnight has an exceptionally high concentration of these pigments, giving it its blackish look.
Appearance of the Midnight Apple Skin
Now let’s take a closer visual examination of the Midnight apple’s skin to gather more clues about its coloration:
| Lighting Condition | Appearance |
|---|---|
| Full sunlight | Very dark maroon/purplish-black |
| Shade/Overcast | Deep blackish-purple |
| Indoor/Artificial light | Black with subtle blue-purple undertone |
As you can see, the exact color perceived depends greatly on the lighting conditions. But some key descriptive words are repeated: black, purple, blue. This gives us hints that the color is not a true black, but rather a very deep shade of purple and blue.
The Nature of Black and Blue
To understand whether the Midnight apple is black or blue, we need to understand what “black” and “blue” mean in scientific terms:
- Black – In physics, black is not considered a color but rather the absence of light. Black surfaces absorb all visible light wavelengths and reflect none back to the eye.
- Blue – Blue is a color, specifically a wavelength of light within the visible light spectrum. The wavelength range for blue is between 450-495 nanometers.
Given these definitions, we can deduce that since the Midnight apple reflects some light back to our eyes, it cannot be pure black. But it could potentially be an extremely dark shade of blue, based on how the color is perceived.
Examining the Apple’s Flesh
Moving beyond skin deep, let’s slice open a Midnight apple and look at the color of the flesh inside. The flesh is creamy white or pale yellow. This indicates the skin’s dark pigmentation is only surface deep. The anthocyanins that give it the dark coloration penetrate just the apple skin, not the entire flesh.
This is more evidence pointing to the color being a dark blue/purple, not true black. If it were black, the entire flesh would appear darkened by absorbing all light, not just the surface. The skin is merely tinted by the pigments, not truly black.
Comparisons with Other Dark Fruits
Looking at other fruits with exceptionally dark purple-blue skins can provide more helpful comparisons:
- Blackberries – Their skin can appear black, but they are classified as a very deep purple color.
- Concord grapes – These grapes have an indigo skin that can also look black, but is botanically identified as blue/purple.
- Eggplant – Though called “black beauty” and “nightshade”, their skin is actually a very deep purple hue.
Like these other fruits, the Midnight apple’s skin is likely not truly black either, but just a uniquely dark shade of violet-blue. This very dark coloring serves to protect the delicate flesh inside.
The Bottom Line
After reviewing all the evidence, we can conclude that the Midnight apple’s skin is technically not a true black, but an extremely dark purplish-blue. The high anthocyanin concentration gives it a darkened hue that only appears black in certain light conditions. But with subtle blue undertones visible, it cannot be classified as purely black from a scientific perspective.
Of course, “black” apple makes for much catchier marketing! Whatever you call it, the midnight apple remains a visually striking, tastes-great fruit that provides a shade of mystery to any apple display.
Conclusion
In summary, while the Midnight apple appears black at first glance, upon closer inspection it reveals itself to be an exceptionally dark bluish-purple color. The high levels of anthocyanin pigments in the skin give it this unique near-black look. Comparisons to other deeply pigmented fruits also suggest the Midnight’s skin is likely a very dark violet-blue, not a true black. Hopefully this sheds some light on the intriguing coloration of this unique apple variety!
