Winter Fruit: Blood Oranges

I’ve never thought of myself as a big orange person.  In fact, I’ve always hated orange juice unless in a mimosa with proportions heavily skewed toward the champagne and have never looked that great in the color. 

My most recent discovery of blood oranges has changed my perception of the word orange forever.  Originally from from Sicily, blood oranges are gaining popularity in the US and are now being grown in California and Texas and can be found fresh and in juice in many grocery stores.  Blood oranges look a lot like your typical orange on the outside only with a few patches of blood to mute the bright orange color of a typical table orange.  Peeling a blood orange is where the magic happens - you get this magnificent deep red (almost purple color) and the taste is nothing like a standard table orange.  Blood oranges are juicy and sweet and much less acidic.  They are great to eat by themselves or in salads and make great juices and of course, cocktails!

If you’ve never had blood orange juice, I highly suggest I.O. Organics Sicilian Blood Orange Juice.  I.O. Organics makes their juice straight from the source using Moro, Tarocco, and Sanguinello Oranges grown in the rich volcanic earth near Mt. Etna in Sicily.  I.O. Organics Blood Orange Juice is amazingly refreshing and has the perfect balance of tart and sweet - it almost reminds me of crossing an orange with a grapefuit.  Substitute your tired OJ for this stuff and you’re also packing on Vitamin C (blood oranges contain up to 40% more of the recommended daily amount than regular oranges) and you’re getting added potassium, fiber, iron, calcium, and Vitamin A.  You can find I.O. Organics Sicilian Blood Orange Juice from farmer’s market and natural food stores or online.

Also, try it with a little vodka or champagne and you’ll never drink a regular screw-driver or mimosa again!

Tagged as: Alfredo Nasti, blood oranges, California, cocktails, farmer's market, fiber, healthy, I.O. Organics Sicilian Blood Orange Juice, Italian, Italy, mimosa, nutrition, oranges, potassium, Sicily, Texas, vegetarian, Vitamin C, winter fruits