Properties / Health
of Orange

Varieties / Season
of Orange

Orange Recipes

The orange contains:

• Vitamins C, A
• Low saturated fats, cholesterol, and sodium
• Fiber
• Calcium
• Potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus
• See table below for more details.

Properties and benefits. Recommended for:

• The orange is the quintessential fruit for colds due to its high vitamin C content. It can be consumed naturally or in juices. See Against Colds
• Due to its high vitamin C content, it is one of the best antioxidants.
• Vitamin C also helps burn fat.
• It helps prevent arteriosclerosis.

- NOT recommended for those with digestive problems: gastritis, hiatal hernia, acidity, ulcers.

There are three basic varieties of oranges: the sweet orange, the most well-known and the one we usually buy in markets; the bitter orange, primarily used for making bitter orange marmalade; and the blood orange, which has a reddish-orange color and is popular for juices.

When it comes to purchasing, the most important varieties are:

• Persian orange is currently the most commonly cultivated variety in southern Europe since the 11th century and is the orange that Christopher Columbus brought to Haiti and the Caribbean in 1493.
• Naval orange or "navel" (California orange)
  A product of a mutation that occurred in 1820 in a monastery in Brazil, from which others have derived, such as the navelina, a hybrid with easy-to-peel skin, and the navelate or late navel.
• Valencia orange
  (Valencia late), is one of the sweet varieties for juice. It predominates in markets after the navel season. Despite its name, this variety has no original connection to Valencia.
• Blood orange (sanguine)
  The blood orange has red streaks on the skin, and the juice is often a dark reddish color.

It is the quintessential juice for breakfasts. Don't forget to have breakfast and frequently drink a glass of orange juice.

Citrus fruits are advisable to take in the mornings. Drinking orange juice on an empty stomach eliminates toxic substances and helps prevent many diseases.

However, oranges are part of a large number of traditional preparations and recipes in Spain and other countries.

Best season: The orange season is from January to May. This is when oranges can be obtained in Spain at a very reasonable price. There are juice oranges (cheaper in season, rich in juice) and table oranges (aesthetically larger and nicer).

Storage: Fresh oranges can last more than three weeks in the fridge, although if stored at room temperature, they can yield more juice.