Types of Oranges

Derived from the Sanskrit word nāraṅgaḥ meaning orange tree; they are cultivated worldwide in warm climates. It is a small flowering tree, with dark green leaves. The orange fruit is a type of a berry, with flavors that vary from sweet to sour. The first orange tree was planted in the U.S.A in Los Angeles, by William Wilfskill, in 1841. There are about 600 varieties of oranges grown all over the world, some of the popular ones are listed below.

Types of Oranges

Navel
This type is formed due to a single mutation that first occurred on a plantation in Brazil in 1820. When peeled, an undeveloped conjoined twin like fruit was found at the base of the orange. Since the base of the fruit resembles a human navel, the orange is called Navel orange. This is a seedless variety, propagated through cuttings. It's flesh is very juicy and sweet. A variety of the Navel orange is the rare Cara Cara orange, which has a faint flavor of strawberries. Navel orange is cultivated in California, Florida and Riverside.

Valencia
This type was first created by William Wilfskill, a Californian agronomist, naming it after the Spanish city of Valencia. It's a late season variety and mostly carries two crops. This fruit is sweet, juicy and has a golden hue to its flesh. They come in medium to large sizes and have thin skin. In the warmer months, the skin is tinged with shades of green, a natural process called regreening.

Blood
This orange is of an Italian origin, now grown in California The peel of the orange is rose-tinted in color and it has pink to dark reddish flesh, depending on its variety. The season for this orange is December to July. The Blood orange comes in several varieties viz. Tarocco, Sanguinello and Moro.
The Tarocco is considered to be of superior quality, medium-sized and has the sweetest flavor.
The Sanguinello is of a seedless variety and has a deep red color. It's native to Spain.
The Moro is a new type, commonly grown in the US and has a distinct flavor, a hint of raspberry to its taste.

Hamlin
They are sweet oranges, widely grown in Florida and are cold tolerant. They are named after A.G. Hamlin, who discovered a seedling near Deland, Florida, in 1879. They are usually round to oval and their thin rind is in shades of dark yellow or orange. They are seedless, sweet and very juicy, making them a favorable juicing orange.

Pineapple
A leading mid season variety, usually round to oval with an orange color peel. Its flesh is sweet and contains seeds. It has the least tolerance to cold among other oranges and is susceptible to citrus blight (a disease) and rapidly collapse under the stress of heavy crop. It's also prone to pre-harvest fruit drop. The peel has a tendency to crease and suffers stress-related condition known as Pineapple 'pitting'. Though excellent in its quality, it is not grown widely.

Jaffa
These mid season oranges are grown in Jaffa, Israel, hence the name. Their peel is thick skinned and flesh is sweet and juicy, with few seeds and pale orange in color. They are also known as the Shamouti orange and the produce is borne alternately on the stems. They are oval in shape and have a strong aroma. Jaffa oranges are susceptible to a type of fungus called Alternaria.

Oranges are nature's delight, full of nutritional value. Abundantly found worldwide, the orange fruit can be eaten fresh or squeezed for its juice. It is also used in a wide variety of recipes for desserts and salads.