– Modern tearless onions often lack flavor complexity. Apple Onion provides a genetic template for combining sweetness, malic acid, and low pyruvate without sacrificing texture.
There is a specific type of heirloom onion often called the "Apple Onion" (or sometimes the Texas 1015 ) known for its incredibly high sugar content and low pyruvic acid. This means they are so sweet and mild that, legend has it, you can eat them raw just like an apple without the stinging "bite" or tears. Apple Onion
For a visual or decorative "piece," you can create a "Bloomin' Apple"—a dessert version of a blooming onion. – Modern tearless onions often lack flavor complexity