A new variety of imported apples from Taiwan (China) has been creating a buzz in the luxury fruit market, with many customers purchasing them as gifts for the Lunar New Year. Known as Taiwanese milk apples, this famous cultivar is primarily grown in the southern regions of Taiwan, such as Kaohsiung and Pingtung, where the warm climate and abundant sunshine provide ideal growing conditions.
Milk apples are renowned for their unique cultivation method, which involves irrigating the trees with milk. This process is believed to increase the vitamin C content of the apples, resulting in levels seven to ten times higher than those found in oranges and tangerines.
According to a survey conducted by Nguoi Lao Dong reporters, Taiwanese milk apples are currently being sold at high-end imported fruit shops in Ho Chi Minh City for 850,000 VND to over 1,000,000 VND per kilogram.
Taiwanese milk apples bear a striking resemblance to Ninh Thuan apples.
Nguyen Hoang Anh, owner of a shop specializing in Chinese imports, shared that Taiwanese milk apples are in high demand, and she imports between 150-200 kg every week to meet the needs of customers looking for premium gifts.
“As the Lunar New Year approaches, there is an increased demand for luxury fruits as gifts, and milk apples are a popular choice,” she said. However, she added that since it is not the season for milk apples, the import prices are very high, and the supply is limited. Currently, her shop is selling the highest-quality milk apples for 1,050,000 VND per kilogram, double the price compared to the period leading up to the 2024 Lunar New Year.”
Those who have tried milk apples describe them as having a similar appearance to Vietnamese green apples, but with a completely different taste and texture. Taiwanese milk apples are larger and more flavorful, with only 5-7 apples per kilogram for the highest-quality fruit, justifying their premium price tag. In contrast, Vietnamese green apples of a similar size are significantly more affordable, typically costing between 20,000-60,000 VND per kilogram.
However, a survey of online retailers revealed significantly lower prices for milk apples, with a box of 1.6 kg costing around 1,000,000 VND, or approximately 625,000 VND per kilogram.
Retail prices for milk apples range from a few hundred thousand to over a million VND per kilogram.
In contrast, Ninh Thuan green apples, a domestic fruit with similar characteristics to Taiwanese milk apples, are significantly more affordable, costing only 30,000-50,000 VND per kilogram. In Vietnam, green apples are widely cultivated, ensuring a plentiful supply and keeping production costs low, which translates to lower prices for consumers.
Interestingly, some online retailers are offering milk apples at extremely low prices, ranging from 99,000 – 105,000 VND per kilogram. When questioned about these prices, Nguyen Ha Thuong, owner of a fruit shop, revealed that these apples are domestically grown in Bac Giang or Ninh Thuan provinces. She explained that the Luc Ngan district in Bac Giang has successfully cultivated this variety, producing apples that are comparable in quality to the original Taiwanese milk apples.
Due to their similar appearance and taste, some traders purchase apples from Bac Giang and Ninh Thuan and mislabel them as Taiwanese milk apples to increase their profit margins.
