Myth examined
“All modern apples come from Almaty”
Partly true. Genomic research confirms that the wild apple species Malus sieversii, native to the mountains around Almaty, is the primary ancestor of the domestic apple. However, as the apple spread westward along the Silk Roads, it hybridised with European wild apples, and modern cultivated apples reflect both lineages.
5 visible sources · Last reviewed 25 Jul 2026 · Public beta · independent review pending