The variety was discovered by a West Virginia farmer at the end of the 19th century.  It is generally considered to be a seedling of Grimes Golden, to which it bears a strong resemblance.  The variety was soon taken up by the famous Stark Brothers nursery, who were so impressed by it that they bought the original tree and an area of land around it.  The tree lived on into the 1950s, by which time it had become firmly established as one of the world's great apple varieties.

Golden Delicious apples are pale green to golden yellow in color and speckled with small lenticels (spots). They are small to medium in size and tend to be conical or oblong in shape.

Golden Delicious apples are firm, crisp, and white-fleshed. These apples have a balanced sweet-tart aromatic flavor, which has been described as honeyed. The flavor varies depending on where these apples are grown; in a cool climate, the amount of acid increases, actually creating a sweeter flavor. When grown in warmer areas, the acid content is lower, creating a milder flavor.