Lecture Notes: Creating a Grape-Flavored Apple (Grapple)

Introduction

• Sponsored by: Brilliant.org
• Topic: Experiment to create an apple that tastes like a grape.
• Objective: Recreate a product called Grapple, which is no longer available on the market.

Background

• Grapple: A product that was an apple with grape flavor.
• Challenge: Grapple seems to be discontinued; no information available about the company going out of business.

Experiment Plan

1. Obtain an Apple: Use a Fuji apple as recommended by the patent.
2. Find a Recipe: Found a patent that provides a method to infuse grape flavor into an apple.
3. Grape Flavor Solution: Use methyl anthranilate, a grape flavor concentrate.
   • Required concentration: 26.4%

Ingredients and Tools

• Apple: Fuji apple
• Grape Flavor Concentrate: Methyl anthranilate (26.4% concentrate)
• Bird Stop (Bird Repellent): Contains the required concentration of methyl anthranilate and is food-grade.
• Distilled Water: For diluting the concentrate.

Procedure

1. **Prepare the Solution: (Grape Flavor Bath)
   • Mix Bird Stop with distilled water to make a 0.5% solution of methyl anthranilate.
   • Dilution process: 26.4% concentrate diluted by about 50 times.
2. Dip the Apple: Submerge the apple in the solution for one minute.
3. Rest Period: Leave the apple to rest for 24 hours to allow the flavor to infuse.
4. Refrigeration: Place the apple in the fridge for another 24 hours to enhance flavor infusion.

Observations

• Solution Appearance: Initially appears like a white, gooey liquid, not as expected.
• Apple: Post-dipping, the apple feels smooth and slightly slimy.
• Flavor Infusion: The apple releases a grape smell after soaking and refrigeration.

Results

• Taste Test: Apple has a mild grape flavor that blends well with the natural apple taste.
• Comparison: Tastes like a mix of grape Kool-Aid and an apple.

Conclusion

• Success: The recreated grape-flavored apple was surprisingly good and tasted better than expected.
• Health Concern: The use of Bird Stop was at their own risk, although it is labeled food grade.
• Recommendation: Do not attempt to replicate using Bird Stop due to potential risks.

Additional Information

• Official Confirmation: The original Grapple product is indeed discontinued with no plans for future production.
• Brilliant.org: Sponsor of the video, an interactive learning platform with courses in math, data science, and computer science.
  • Features: Interactive lessons, small sections, no major time commitment.
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