Oranges are one of the most eaten fruits around the world. They are round citrus fruits with finely-textured skins that are, of course, orange in colour just like their pulpy flesh. Juicy and sweet and known for their concentration of vitamin C, oranges make the perfect snack and add a special flavour to many recipes. Orange juice is an integral part of breakfast. | | |
Oranges are classified into two general categories – sweet and bitter – with the former being the type most commonly consumed. Popular varieties of the sweet orange include Valencia, Novel and Jaffa oranges, as well as the blood orange, a hybrid species that is smaller in size, more aromatic in flavour and has red hues running through its flesh. Bitter oranges are often used to make jam or marmalade. | | |
Sweet oranges were introduced to Europe in around the 15th century by the Moors and the Portuguese as well as by the Italian traders and explorers. Christopher Columbus brought orange seeds to the New World on his second voyage. Spanish explorers are responsible for bringing oranges to Florida in the 16th century, while Spanish missionaries brought them to California in the 18th century. | | |
Before the 20th century, oranges were very expensive and therefore they were not regularly consumed, but rather eaten on special holiday such as Christmas. After more efficient means of transportation and food processors had been invented to develop methods for using by-products, the price of oranges dropped, and they could be bought by people even with limited means as they are today. | | |
Oranges do not necessarily have to have a bright orange colour to be good. In fact, the uniform colour may be due to injection of an artificial dye. Being partially green or having brown spots, oranges may be just as ripe and tasty as those that are solid orange in colour. Buy oranges that have smoothly textured skin and are firm and heavy for their size. | | |
Thin-skinned oranges can be easily peeled with your fingers. For the thicker-skinned varieties make four cuts from top to bottom and peel away these sections of skin, or starting at the top, peel the orange in a spiral fashion. Before cutting the orange in half, wash the skin so that any dirt or bacteria from the surface will not be transferred to the fruit. | | |
You may already know that oranges are an excellent source of vitamin C which can neutralize free radicals and is also vital for the proper functioning of the immune system. Oranges are protective against excessive weight gaining, heart disease, certain cancers, diabetes, high blood pressure and strokes. The health benefits of oranges continue with their fiber, which can reduce high cholesterol levels. | | |
* | | |
