The orange, Citrus x sinensis, is the sweet citrus fruit that many of us have enjoyed countless times. The orange is actually a cross between the pomelo and the mandarin; that makes many citrus fruits incredibly close plant cousins (that includes the orange, lime, lemon, grapefruits, and others!). Orange trees are evergreens that grow in tropical environments. Perhaps surprisingly, oranges originated in China or another part of Asia. For many years, oranges were very valuable and relatively rare; now, they are one of the most common fruits used in the entire world. I love adding this crisp citrusy flavor to dishes, especially salads, but I also love a well-constructed baked good with orange flavor ; some of my favorite recipes that have included oranges are my Citrus, Fig, and Walnut Salad; Orange-Strawberry Cut-Out Cookies; and Orange-Cranberry Muffins.
It’s common knowledge that oranges are rich in vitamin C, and it’s true that 100g of orange carries more than 60% of your RDV of vitamin C. Other than that, oranges have smaller or trace amounts of almost all the other dietary vitamins and minerals. Oranges are also rich in phytonutrients, including the carotenoids and flavonoids.
Oranges are grown year-round in tropical environments, so there is no distinct orange “season,” but they reach peak production in the winter. You can pick up oranges at your grocery store.
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