With a sterling reputation as a device for warding off visits from the doctor, the humble apple is a firm favourite of the UK. Here at Office Groceries, our office fruit baskets certainly would not be complete without these red-green orbs of deliciousness. A staple of children’s lunch boxes across the nation, they are a commonplace food item that tends to leave heads unturned. It must be said, however, that the history of the apple is not as banal as one might think. The same can be said of the banana, and if you’re interested in that story then check out our previous post: The History of the Banana in your Office Fruit Delivery.
In the following article we’ll be dishing the tea on all things related to the history of the apple. We hope you enjoy – as they say in France, bone-apple-tea!
1. Fruits of biblical proportions
It is common knowledge that Adam and Eve were expelled from the garden of Eden because she tempted him into eating an apple from the Tree of Knowledge, right? Wrong! The fruit of the Tree of Knowledge is actually left unspecified in the Bible. It was only thought to be an apple when it was depicted as such by artists – particularly the during the Renaissance. This misconception, however, is a testament to the prevalence of the apple. It’s no wonder it’s an integral part of each lunchbox and office fruit basket across the nation.
As a highly common fruit across the world, it’s easy to forget that apples were not always so easily accessible. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, they have been enjoyed by European for over 2000 years. They have had a long journey from the mouths of Renaissance men to the contents of corporate fruit baskets.
2. Apples just have to be different don’t they, *sigh*
Apples are just so ruddy attention-seeking! Each apple tree that grows from a pip will be different from its parent tree. This is why apples are only cultivated properly if a sample of the apple wood is grafted to some rootstock. This practise was started by the Ancient Egyptians and has continued throughout history. If an apple tree grows from a pip then it would bear fruit that could potentially be completely different from the fruit of the parent tree. If that were the case, then it would be a lottery as to whether all the apples in your office fruit basket would taste and look just the way you like them. Imagine the horror!
Cultivating apples in the right way is hence quite the art. So much so, in fact, that in Tudor times orchards of quality apples were seen as a luxury befitting of royalty. King Henry VIII had an orchard in Kent with many different varieties, and he imported French gardeners to look after them. Oo la la.
3. Who knew apples were so mystical?
Apples have long been associated with fairylands and elements of mysticism. Legend has it that if one falls asleep in an orchard then one will awake many years into the future. Valued items that are buried under an apple tree will never decay. It is also thought that if you take a bite of an apple on Halloween night and sleep with it under your pillow you will dream of true love. Just sounds like a sticky pillow to us, but each to their own!
Apple bobbing, the fun party game, is also linked to contact with fairyland. We don’t suggest setting up an apple bobbing station in your office unless you work in a millenial WeWork space where anything goes. Your boss might not be too happy if they notice that the office fresh fruit basket delivery has been pillaged.
We hope you found our playful blog interesting! If you have any questions regarding how to order a fruit basket to your office, then please don’t hesitate to contact us.