In recent weeks, the same, seemingly strange term has been popping up on social media: strawberry lemonade apple. Creators on TikTok and YouTube are filming reactions to an “apple that tastes like strawberry lemonade,” users are wondering where they can buy it, and food bloggers are looking for ways to transfer that flavor into refreshing drinks and desserts. Behind this trend lies not a single variety, but a whole world of modern, visually attractive apples and recipes that combine apple, strawberry, and lemon into a flavor resembling summer lemonade.

What is actually behind the term “strawberry lemonade apple”?

The term strawberry lemonade apple is used today by various actors – from apple growers and retailers to food influencers. In a narrower sense, it refers to specific apple varieties that recall a mix of strawberry and lemonade with their taste and aroma: they are slightly tart, refreshing, and fruity-sweet, with notes of berries. In a broader sense, the same expression is also used for recipes in which classic lemonade is enhanced by a combination of apple and strawberry, whether in the form of juice, puree, or cider.

In the background is a broader trend of “fun” fruit offerings: producers are introducing new varieties with pink or red pulp, unusual flavors, and strong visual identities. Such apples are ideal for viral videos, reels, and short recipes because their appearance stands out from the everyday varieties we find on supermarket shelves.

Lucy Glo – the TikTok star that “smells” like strawberry and lemonade

Most often, when someone on the internet says they are eating a strawberry lemonade apple, they are actually talking about the Lucy Glo variety. It is a relatively new red-fleshed apple grown in Washington state, created by crossing the popular Honeycrisp with the red-fleshed variety Airlie Red Flesh. The result is an apple with yellowish skin and intensely pink to red flesh, visually resembling a cross between an apple and a watermelon.

Lucy Glo belongs to the Lucy™ apples brand, a family of two varieties – Lucy Glo and the redder Lucy Rose – which have been commercially grown for just over a decade. The producer, Chelan Fresh, describes them as crisp and juicy apples with a flavor that combines sweetness and tart freshness, with mild tones of berries. Their season lasts mainly from October to February, and they are available primarily in the United States market.

It is precisely Lucy Glo that is responsible for the recent wave of viral videos in which creators bite into an apple and claim it “literally tastes like strawberry lemonade.” Clips from stores like Sprouts Farmers Market, as well as reaction shorts on YouTube and TikTok, have gathered tens of thousands of views, enough for the term strawberry lemonade apple to break through to a wider audience outside the circle of food enthusiasts.

Hidden Rose – the pioneer of pink flesh with lemonade flavor

Before Lucy Glo became the “it apple” of social media, Hidden Rose already held cult status in the niche of red-fleshed varieties for years. This variety originates from the American Pacific Northwest and was discovered as early as the 1960s in the state of Oregon. From the outside, it looks relatively unobtrusive – yellowish-green skin with a slight blush – but when cut open, an intensely pink to dark pink pulp is revealed.

Distributors describe the Hidden Rose apple as slightly sweet and refreshingly tart, with an aroma reminiscent of strawberry lemonade, citrus, and berries. Due to this combination of flavors and striking color, it is often called “pink lemonade in apple form.” Its season is short – usually from late autumn to early winter – and quantities are limited, so it is mainly sold through specialized retailers, online orders, and smaller shops focusing on local and seasonal fruit.

Hidden Rose is also one of the first varieties to show a wider audience that apples do not have to be just green, yellow, or red on the outside, but that surprise can also come from the inside. It paved the way for newer commercial red-fleshed varieties, including Lucy Glo and Lucy Rose, but also a series of other experimental hybrids.

Lemonade apple and other varieties that smell like lemonade

The third important link in the story of the strawberry lemonade apple is the Lemonade™ variety. This yellow-green apple was developed by the New Zealand company Yummy Fruit Co., as a cross between the famous Royal Gala and Braeburn varieties, with the influence of Golden Delicious. As its name suggests, producers describe it as an apple with a “refreshing, fizzy flavor, like a sip of homemade lemonade on a hot day.”

The Lemonade apple does not have pink pulp like Lucy Glo or Hidden Rose, but its taste is distinctly citrusy – combining a firm texture, pronounced tartness, and stable sweetness. In the last few years, it has slowly been entering other markets, including the United States and Europe, through various distributors and retail chains looking to offer something different from the standard offer.

Alongside Lemonade, there are several other varieties on the market with pronounced citrus notes, whether they are natural hybrids or the result of long-term selective breeding. Users often put all these apples under the same viral umbrella of “strawberry lemonade apple,” although their actual taste can differ quite a bit – some lean towards lemonade, others towards strawberry and raspberry, and a third group towards fruit punch.

Why have red-fleshed apples become a hit?

The combination of visual effect and strong, refreshing flavor makes red-fleshed apples a perfect product for the social media age. When someone cuts a Lucy Glo or Hidden Rose, the camera instantly captures the almost neon-pink core, clearly visible even on a small smartphone screen. Combined with a dramatic reaction and short format, such videos are ideal for TikTok and YouTube Shorts algorithms.

Along with visual attractiveness, the story is also important: many consumers today are looking for something “new” within well-known food categories. The apple is one of the most standard food items, so any innovation – whether in color, texture, or taste – immediately gets extra attention. Red-fleshed varieties simultaneously satisfy nostalgia (apple as a classic snack) and the desire for something special (pink interior and lemonade-like taste).

The trend also fits into the broader “instagrammable” food aesthetic: anything brightly colored, photogenic, and easy to cut or serve has a good chance of becoming viral. The strawberry lemonade apple fits perfectly into this logic – it is exotic enough to attract a click, but familiar enough for consumers to want to try it.

The nutritional side of the story: more than a visual effect

Behind the pink color of red-fleshed apples are pigments from the anthocyanin group, the same substances that make berries characteristically red or bluish. Although individual nutritional profiles vary from variety to variety, it is generally considered that red-fleshed apples, similar to other apples, contain dietary fiber, vitamin C, and a range of phytochemicals associated with antioxidant effects.

For the average consumer, the key message is that these apples are still – apples. They are not candies, “magic” superfoods, or a substitute for a varied diet, but an attractive variety of fruit that already occupies an important place in healthy menus. Compared to carbonated drinks with strawberry and lemon flavor, the strawberry lemonade apple has a big advantage: it binds natural sugars to fiber, which reduces sudden spikes in blood sugar while providing a feeling of satiety.

Where can strawberry lemonade apples be bought?

Most of the viral content comes from the United States, where Lucy Glo, Lucy Rose, Hidden Rose, and Lemonade apples are available at certain times of the year. Lucy Glo and Lucy Rose are sold in chains like Trader Joe’s, regional supermarkets, and via online retailers, and are grown by a small number of specialized producers in Washington. Hidden Rose is, however, still a niche product: grown by a limited circle of producers, and distribution often takes place through specialized suppliers and “fruit of the month” club packages.

The Lemonade apple is present primarily on the New Zealand market, where it was developed, but in recent years it has been entering American and European chains through partners who have obtained a license. Some producers in the United States and Europe grow Lemonade under license themselves, while others import fruit from New Zealand and package it under their own brand.

For consumers in Croatia and the region, the strawberry lemonade apple is currently mostly exotic news – only occasionally can small quantities of red-fleshed varieties appear at specialized fruit importers, on web shops offering “rare fruit” packages, or at smaller family farms and collectors experimenting with their own seedlings. However, given the growing interest in new apple varieties in Europe, it is not excluded that more products inspired by this trend will appear on the domestic market in the coming seasons.

When is the strawberry lemonade apple season?

Although the exact season depends on the variety and region, it can be said that strawberry lemonade apples are most available from late autumn to early winter. Lucy Glo and other Lucy varieties appear on the market roughly from October, and remain in some stores until February, depending on the harvest and storage. Hidden Rose has an even narrower window – typically from late October to December – and rarely stays on sale for longer than a few weeks.

The Lemonade apple, as a New Zealand variety, often fills the opposite part of the calendar. In countries with imported supply, it appears during their season, which due to different climatic conditions can fall in the period of late spring and summer in the northern hemisphere. In practice, this means that different “lemonade” apples alternate during the year, so social media users identify different seasons with the same term – strawberry lemonade apple.

How to recognize a strawberry lemonade apple when you see it on the shelf?

As a consumer, you will find your way most easily by following variety names and the declaration on the packaging. Lucy Glo is usually sold under the Lucy™ apples brand, with a prominent photo of pink flesh and a short description of the flavor. Hidden Rose often comes in cardboard boxes or packaging that emphasizes its pink interior and limited availability, while the Lemonade™ apple is often presented with a yellow label and a clearly emphasized name pointing to the lemonade flavor.

Red-fleshed apples do not always have to look dramatic from the outside – sometimes they are muted yellowish or greenish, with just a slight blush. That is why the variety name is key. If you see Lucy Glo, Lucy Rose, Hidden Rose, Mountain Rose (an alternative name sometimes used for the same or a very similar variety), or Lemonade™ on the label, there is a high probability that you are standing in front of some variant of the “lemonade” apple.

How to serve them: from a simple snack to a show-stopper dessert

Although strawberry lemonade apples can be eaten completely on their own, their full potential is revealed when the color and flavor are utilized. The simplest way is to serve them freshly sliced into thin wedges on a platter with walnuts, cheese, and dried fruit. The pink pulp provides a visual contrast that turns even the most ordinary cheese platter into an attractive addition to the table.

Another option is to use them in salads – for example, in combination with arugula or baby spinach, nuts, fresh cheese, and a light dressing of olive oil and lemon juice. The fruity-tart profile of Lucy Glo or Hidden Rose apples nicely balances the fat of the cheese and nuts and adds freshness to the salad.

Red-fleshed apples also tolerate thermal processing well. In pies, galettes, crumbles, or simply stewed with a little butter and spices, they retain some of the color, and the notes of lemonade and strawberry come out even more clearly. Certain producers and restaurants already offer cider, cuvée, and other drinks based on Hidden Rose apples, highlighting precisely the nuances of strawberry and citrus.

Strawberry lemonade apples in a glass: drinks and mocktails

Parallel to the appearance of new apple varieties, the internet is flooded with recipes for drinks combining apple, strawberry, and lemonade. Even if you cannot get hold of a Lucy Glo or Hidden Rose apple, you can reproduce the strawberry lemonade flavor in a glass using more accessible ingredients. A common starting point is classic lemonade (freshly squeezed lemon, water, and sweetener), to which fresh or frozen strawberries and apple juice or cider are added.

One typical approach is to create a base of apple juice and strawberries in a blender, then mix it with lemon juice and water or sparkling water. Another variant uses ready-made apple cider, joined by strawberry puree, lemon juice, and ice cubes. Various bloggers and apple producers have developed their own versions of such recipes, often precisely for promoting varieties like Cosmic Crisp, which tolerate mixing in drinks well.

For those who want a non-alcoholic variant, it is enough to stick to the combination of fruit puree, lemonade, and sparkling water. Those more inclined towards cocktails can add gin, vodka, or sparkling wine, where strawberry lemonade apples or apple juice serve as a natural sweetener and source of aromatic acidity.

A small guide: how to “imitate” a strawberry lemonade apple at home

If viral videos have piqued your curiosity, but you cannot find Lucy Glo, Hidden Rose, or Lemonade apples in your local store, you can approximate the strawberry lemonade flavor using common varieties. The key is in combining sweet-tart apples with strawberry and lemon juice, with a minimal amount of added sugar.

One simple idea is “marinated apple with strawberry lemonade flavor.” Slice a firm, slightly tart apple (e.g., Granny Smith or a local variety) into thin slices, pour over the juice of one lemon and a spoonful or two of strawberry puree or thickened strawberry juice. Stir gently, add a little honey if desired, and leave in the refrigerator for 15–20 minutes. The apple will absorb some of the fruit aromas and take on a flavor reminiscent of strawberry and lemon ice cream.

Another possibility is to make a “quick” lemonade with apple: throw cleaned apple pieces, fresh strawberries, lemon juice, water, and sweetener of choice (honey, agave syrup, or classic sugar) into a blender. Strain the resulting drink if you want a cleaner texture or serve with pulp for a rustic, smoothie-like result. It is not the same as biting into a real Lucy Glo, but it is close enough to understand why people are delighted by the strawberry lemonade apple concept.

What does this trend mean for the apple market?

The strawberry lemonade apple is not just a passing fad, but part of a larger shift in the fruit industry. After Honeycrisp showed that consumers are willing to pay more for an apple with exceptional texture and flavor, growers started developing new, visually striking varieties. Lucy Glo and Lucy Rose represent one of these lines – a focus on red flesh, unique flavor, and a clearly told brand story. Hidden Rose, as an earlier example, shows that niche varieties can also break through to a wider audience when they receive attention from specialized suppliers and media.

The Lemonade apple follows the same trend, but with an emphasis on citrus notes and yellow skin color, which further distinguishes it from the standard offer. For retailers, such varieties offer a “point of difference” in a category where products are often perceived as interchangeable. For consumers, they give a reason to return to the fruit and vegetable section and try something new.

In Europe, and even in Croatia, the role of such apples is currently mainly promotional and inspirational – they remind us that agronomy and breeding are not static, but that classic crops like apples are constantly changing. As licensing schemes expand, some of these varieties could appear among domestic growers, but for now, it is more realistic to expect limited quantities via specialized importers.

Potential for domestic producers and the hospitality industry

For local fruit growers and caterers, the strawberry lemonade apple trend opens up several interesting opportunities. The first is experimenting with available red-fleshed or aromatic varieties that can already be obtained as seedlings in Europe. Although specific varieties like Lucy Glo and Hidden Rose are grown under strict licenses, there are other red-fleshed apples with a more open status that can be worked with at the local level.

The second opportunity lies in gastronomy: restaurants, bistros, and bars can devise their own “strawberry lemonade” desserts and drinks, using local apples, strawberries (fresh or frozen), and citrus fruits. In this way, they can tell a story that keeps pace with the global trend but remains faithful to domestic ingredients. For example, a domestic apple and strawberry from the freezer can be turned into a seasonal mocktail or cocktail that will be just as photogenic to guests as a viral Lucy Glo on TikTok.

The third option is the development of own products – from juices and ciders to jams and syrups – that would play on the card of “lemonade” aroma, whether through a combination of apple, strawberry, and lemon, or through the selection of varieties with more pronounced acidity. This creates added value for domestic raw materials, which otherwise often end up in the lowest price category.

How to responsibly communicate the trend to consumers

Since the strawberry lemonade apple was created at the intersection of marketing, social media, and real agronomic innovations, it is important to communicate clearly and honestly with consumers. When retailers, influencers, or media present such an apple, it is useful to emphasize that it is a specific variety with a certain flavor profile, and not a “miracle” that nullifies everything we know about fruit.

It is good to avoid exaggerated claims about health benefits that are not supported by research and instead focus on real advantages: diet diversity, enjoyment of new flavors, the possibility of creative cooking, and an attractive appearance on a plate or photo. This builds trust in both the product itself and the brand promoting it.

For media and portals, the strawberry lemonade apple is an interesting story because it combines food science, agriculture, pop culture, and digital marketing. It is also a reminder that even the most famous fruit can get a new chapter as soon as a variety appears that combines taste, smell, and color in a different way.