The Ultimate Fruit: A Delicious Look-Alike with a Premium Price Tag

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. These apples, known as Taiwanese milk apples, are a famous cultivar grown primarily in the southern regions of Taiwan, such as Kaohsiung and Pingtung, which boast a warm climate and abundant sunshine throughout the year. This particular fruit is renowned for the meticulous care it requires during cultivation, including irrigation with milk. Taiwanese milk apples are believed to contain 7 to 10 times more vitamin C than oranges.

According to a survey conducted by reporters from Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper, Taiwanese milk apples are currently being sold at upscale imported fruit shops in Ho Chi Minh City for 850,000 VND to over 1,000,000 VND per kg.

Ms. Nguyen Hoang Anh, owner of a shop specializing in products imported from China, shared that Taiwanese milk apples are in high demand, and she imports between 150-200 kg of these apples weekly 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 Taiwanese milk apples are a popular choice. However, since it is not the season for these apples, the import price is very high, and the quantity is limited. We are currently selling them at 1,050,000 VND per kg for the highest quality, which is double the price compared to the period leading up to the 2024 Lunar New Year,” added Ms. Hoang Anh.

Many who have tried these apples comment that while Taiwanese milk apples resemble the green apples commonly found in Vietnam, their quality and flavor are distinct. The Taiwanese variety is larger and has a more intense flavor, with only 5-7 apples per kg for the highest grade, priced at millions of dong, whereas the equivalent-sized Vietnamese green apples are sold for a much lower price of 20,000-60,000 VND per kg.

However, a survey of online retailers revealed significantly lower prices for this product, with a box of 1.6 kg of apples costing around 1,000,000 VND, or approximately 625,000 VND per kg.

Interestingly, some online retailers are offering Taiwanese milk apples at surprisingly low prices of 99,000 – 105,000 VND per kg. When questioned about this, Ms. Nguyen Ha Thuong, owner of a fruit shop, revealed that these low-priced apples are domestically sourced from Bac Giang or Ninh Thuan provinces. The region of Luc Ngan in Bac Giang has successfully cultivated this apple variety, producing fruit that is comparable in quality to the authentic Taiwanese milk apples. Due to their similar appearance and quality, some traders purchase apples from Bac Giang and Ninh Thuan and market them as Taiwanese milk apples to increase their profit margins.