Oranges are those fruits you see, and you immediately think of the summertime. They're a refreshing fruit to snack on that can also provide some hydration on a hot day.
They're sweet, juicy, and the perfect healthy snack that doesn't make you feel like you're eating healthy.
But do you know what kind of fruit oranges are? They're not similar to apples, grapes, or berries, so is orange citrus fruit?
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Is Orange a Citrus Fruit?
Oranges are citrus fruit, and they happen to be the largest of all the citrus fruits. You may be wondering how oranges are citrus fruits when they do not taste anything like lemons and limes, but they're more similar than you think.
What is Citrus Fruit?
We've established that oranges are citrus fruits, but what exactly is a citrus fruit? Citrus fruits come from specific flowering trees in the citrus family.
These trees produce flowers that begin to grow their respected fruit. Citrus trees are native to several regions of the world, including Southeast Asia, South Asia, East Asia, and Australia.
Because Florida is associated with orange production, it may be surprising to realize they're not native to the area.
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Other popular citrus fruits alongside oranges are lemons, grapefruits, limes, and clementine. These are just a few citrus fruits, but there are over 100 different types of citrus fruits known to man.
Of the 100 varieties of citrus fruit, there are a dozen varieties of oranges. Some of the most common types of oranges are:
- Naval
- Valencia
- Tangelo
- Clementine
- Blood Orange
- Cara Cara
- Lima Orange
- Bitter Orange
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Health Benefits of Oranges
We've all been told to eat our fruits and veggies. We're told this because eating fruits regularly is excellent for our overall health. But what makes oranges so healthy?
Oranges are high in fiber. Eating one orange can provide you with about 12% of your recommended daily fiber intake.
Oranges are packed with vitamin C. Vitamin C helps to protect our bodies' cells from damage. Consuming Vitamin C has been shown to reduce your possibility of getting cancer, asthma, arthritis, and many more illnesses.
If you've ever had a cold and were told to drink orange juice, it's because vitamin C helps boost your immune system.
The more vitamin C you take, the more likely your immune system can fight off common colds, and you can stay healthy.
Oranges and many citrus fruits are rich in flavonoids which have cancer-preventing properties. There have even been studies done on people who have tumors, and consuming oranges that are rich in flavonoids contributed to preventing their spread.
Where Do They Grow Oranges?
Citrus trees are native to certain parts of Asia and Australia, but oranges are grown all over the world. Florida is the top producer of oranges in the United States.
The state has over 70 million citrus trees, and several million of those are specifically orange trees.
If you travel across the pond to Europe, Spain is the leading producer of oranges on the continent. They've produced over 3 million tons of oranges consistently for the last few years. Brazil produces more oranges than any other country in South America.
This may come as a surprise to you, but not only is Brazil the leading orange producer in South America, it's the top orange juice producer in the world.
On the other side of the world, China and India are leading the way in orange production.
Mexico is another powerhouse when it comes to orange production.
Interesting Facts About Oranges
Why not learn a little more about these popular citrus fruits? Oranges aren't native to the United States, so how did they get there? It's said that when Ponce De Leon arrived in Florida, he planted the first orange tree.
For the freshest oranges, you'll want to get them between October and June. This is when they're the juiciest and tastiest.
Another interesting fact about oranges is that the average American drinks approximately 2.7 gallons of orange juice a year.
Of all the citrus fruits in the world, oranges are loved by almost everyone. These refreshing and juicy fruits are perfect for enjoying on a hot summer's day or any time of the year when you're craving a sweet citrus fruit.