Gala

Why you should be excited

Gala is an apple everyone knows, but few consider their absolute favourite. A nice commercial apple.

The story of Gala

Sweet and juicy, Gala is an apple we can understand becoming popular.

Originating in New Zealand, plantings spread widely during the last third of the 20th century, mostly in the form of Royal Gala, a more brightly coloured sport. It’s pretty and flavourful, but really no better than a zillion lesser-known apple varieties.

And – from an organic perspective – it’s a fairly fussy apple tree to grow, susceptible to both scab and canker. That makes it a pain to deal with.

We don’t mind if you worship this variety, but we hope you’ll understand why we’ve only got a few Gala trees in our orchard. There are plenty of other varieties we prefer growing.

Gala Facts

Its origins

Bred in Greytown, New Zealand; introduced in 1965.

Flavour, aroma, texture

Cream-coloured flesh is juicy, with rich, honeyed flavour and hints of a perfumed quality.

Appearance

Medium-sized with a gold background that's partly covered by an orange flush and red striping.

When they’re available

Mid-season (usually in early October).

Quality for fresh eating

Very good.

Quality for cooking

Mainly used for fresh eating.

Quality for cider

Although it's used in many North American ciders, Gala is not a particularly great apple in cider. It adds bulk and not much else.

Keeping ability

Very good (up to 4 months when kept refrigerated).