Apples produce their own waxy coating
Some may think that glossy, tacky apples are covered with artificial wax. This is wrong. It’s not artificial, but a natural wax that we call “Abura-agari” in Japanese. What are the components of this tacky substance? The apple surface is naturally covered with a smooth and transparent wax film. As the fruit ripens, fatty acids such as linoleic acid and oleic acid are secreted from the epidermal cell. These acids dissolve the wax component, and thus the surface becomes tacky and glossy. It actually indicates the ripeness of the fruit. Why do apples produce this natural wax? The natural wax plays an important role in protecting the apple’s… Read More »