It's in our blood
Q: What looks like an orange, has rich cherry-like flavours and contains more than your daily does of Vitamin C?
Say hello to the amazing blood orange.
February is the start of the season for Blood Oranges in Australia and if you’re looking to put a little extra zing in your step, you can’t go past this sweet, healthy snack.
What are blood oranges?
Blood Oranges are a naturally occurring mutation of the orange, which is itself, a hybrid of a number of other citrus fruits.
As the name suggests, blood oranges enjoy a deep, succulent red color, sometimes in splotches on the outside but most obviously on the inside. The concentration of the red colouring depends on the particular type of orange and the growing conditions but there’s no mistaking the difference to a typical orange once you slice it open.
The colour is even more intense when juicing them and resembles the ruby red of a cranberry - hence the ‘blood’ reference in the name.
Where does the ‘blood’ colour come from?
Blood oranges owe their ‘blood-like’ colouring to a pigment called anthocyanin, which is widely found in the plant kingdom and is responsible for a wide range of colour pigmentations. It can appear blue and purple and is the secret colour ingredient that creates the red in cherries the blue in blueberries and the sublime purple in eggplant.
One single Blood Oranges contain up to 130% of the recommended daily dose of Vitamin C and is also loaded with potassium, Vitamin A, iron, calcium, and fibre. The active ingredient, Athocyanin, is a powerful antioxidant giving Blood Oranges a reputation for being a true superfood with wide ranging health benefits including preventing the build-up of bad cholesterol, lowering the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and cataracts.
Where do blood oranges come from?
Blood oranges originated in Asia and made their way with traders to Sicily and Spain where the most famous varieties now grow. Varieties include Tarocco, Moro (or Morro), and Sanguinello (or Sanguigno). While you may have heard the term “Sicilian Blood Oranges”, they are grown in other parts of the world, including Australia, where conditions are so favourable that we now export them back to their homeland.
As with many citrus fruits, these special oranges are in season through the winter.
What do blood oranges taste like?
Not surprisingly, this comes down to the person doing the tasting and the varietal. With more than a dozen different kinds on offer, taste ranges from slightly bitter to a more concentrated sweetness that traditional oranges.
The Maltese Blood Orange is considered the sweetest while the well known Moro is easily the most colorful of the varieties.
Often described as a dose of orange with an extra kick, Blood Oranges are favoured for their extra zing and their health benefits.
Ideas for Blood Oranges
Blood oranges can be used just like regular oranges but it’s worth taking advantage of their extra flavour for special duties in cocktails, salads, sauces and of course marmalades.
WRP Secret Sauce Recipe