Applewood is a hardwood cut from apple trees and used as a smoking wood, valued for the mild, sweet, and slightly fruity smoke flavor it imparts to food. It burns cooler and milder than hickory or mesquite, making it a common choice for smoking pork, poultry, and fish, as well as bacon, ham, and sausages, without overpowering the meat's own flavor. It is sold as chips, chunks, or logs and can also flavor cheeses, nuts, and some vegetables when used in a smoker or wood-fired oven.