Citrus Snapshot

Citrus Snapshot

Oranges, yellows, and greens paint more than just the trees this season—they paint the produce department as citrus steps into the spotlight. Perfect for the autumn aesthetics, Halloween decorations, and combating winter sickness with that powerful vitamin C, discover how you can maximize this effervescent category in the following pages…


Blood Orange

ATTRIBUTES:

Deep maroon interior with very few seeds and orange-red blushed exterior; easy to peel 

AROMA:

Mildly floral with an earthy papaya-like fragrance

FLAVOR:

Rich, plum-like flavor with hints of tart cherry and raspberry undertones

 

Cara Cara Orange

Attributes:

Rich pink pulp with orange exterior; seedless

Aroma:

Pleasingly tropical

Flavor:

Extremely sweet with a kiss of cranberry and cherry undertones

 

Navel Orange

Attributes:

Small navel formation on the blossom end; easy to peel and seedless

Aroma:

Sweet, floral

Flavor:

Refreshingly sweet with rich vanilla finish and cherry undertones

 

Valencia Orange

Attributes:

Differentiated from other orange varieties by thin, slightly pebbly rind and occassional seeds

Aroma:

Orange blossom

Flavor:

Perfect balance of sweet and tart flavors; high juice content

 

Clementine, W. Murcott, and Tango

Attributes:

Unique rounded middle, flat top and bottom,
medium-sized fruit with deep orange, smooth,
glossy skin; seedless and easy to peel

Aroma:

Sweet, wildflower, pomegranate-like

Flavor:

Crisp apricot-like or candied nectar flavor with a rich aftertaste

 

Page Mandarin

Attributes:

Prominent circle on blossom end

Aroma:

Crisp, citrus scent

Flavor:

Rich flavor

 

Satsuma Mandarin

Attributes:

Varying in shape from flat to necked; easy to peel and segment; seedless

Aroma:

Sweet honeysuckle aroma

Flavor:

Refreshing with warm, tropical hints

 

Gold Nugget Mandarin

Attributes:

Bright and slightly bumpy rind; seedless, sweet,
and easy to peel

Aroma:

Candy citrus

Flavor:

Rich and sweet, juicy flavor

 

Meyer Lemon

Attributes:

Cross between a regular lemon and a Mandarin orange; bright yellow or rich orange-yellow color

Aroma:

Rich lemon blossom; floral, sweet lime, lemon, and Mandarin

Flavor:

Zesty sweet, deep citrus flavor

 

Eureka and Lisbon Lemon

Attributes:

Two different types that are virtually indistinguishable from each other; bright yellow with medium to slightly pebbly skin; popular citrus fruit used in cooking today

Aroma:

Crisp, floral smell

Flavor:

Distinct tangy flavor that complements both sweet and savory foods

 

Pink Variegated Lemon

Attributes:

Pink on the inside with a yellow-and-green striped rind

Aroma:

Bright, crisp

Flavor:

Slightly less acidic than conventional lemons

 

Grapefruit

Attributes:

Yellow skin with a pink blush, flesh varies from light pink to deep red

Aroma:

Subtly sweet, sour cherry

Flavor:

Perfect balance of sweet and tart flavors; extremely juicy

 

Texas Rio Red Grapefruit

Attributes:

Overall blush on the exterior peel with a deep red interior color

Aroma:

Bright and floral

Flavor:

Surprisingly sweet with a hint of zing

 

Oro Blanco and Melo

Attributes:

Oro: Slightly larger than grapefruit, thick green-yellow rind
Melo: Larger than Oro, thinner rind

Aroma:

Both are sweet

Flavor:

Oro: Juicy, sweet, bitter membranes
Melo: Sweet, but less than Pummelo

 

Pummelo

Attributes:

Largest of all citrus fruit; thick, dark green
peel that fades to yellow as season progresses

Aroma:

Zesty; slightly tropical with a hint of
jasmine and lime

Flavor:

Sweet with a candied aftertaste

 

Minneola Tangelo

Attributes:

Cross between a grapefruit and tangerine; a deep orange with a knob-like formation at the stem end; few, if any, seeds; peels easily

Aroma:

Robust, tart-orange aroma

Flavor:

Bold, tangy flavor and bursting with juice

 

Persian Lime

Attributes:

Typically sold while still dark green in color, gradually turn light green as they ripen; virtually seedless

Aroma:

Spicy, floral

Flavor:

Distinctive limey flavor

 

Key Lime (Mexican or West Indian Lime)

Attributes:

Generally round with straw yellow flesh and a thin, leathery skin; ranging from light green to yellow

Aroma:

Highly crisp aromatic attributes

Flavor:

Fresh, tangy taste

 

Finger Lime

Attributes:

Not related to a lemon or a lime; considered a
micro-citrus with tiny fruit pearls in a wide
range of colors

Aroma:

Unique, refreshing lime

Flavor:

Similar to a lemon-lime-grapefruit combination