Types of Citrus Fruit
Fruits are an important part of a healthy diet, and citrus fruits in particular provide vital detoxifying properties along with vitamin C and other essential nutrients. Other reasons for the popularity of citrus fruits include their zesty flavor and pleasing aroma. While many shoppers are most familiar with oranges and grapefruit, the list of citrus fruits is actually quite a bit longer. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
-
The Big Two
-
Oranges and grapefruit are the most commonly consumed citrus fruits in America. Grown primarily in Florida and California, these staple fruits are consumed both in their original fruit form and as juices. High in acid content, some people have a difficult time digesting these particular citrus fruits.
The Zesty Duo
-
Lemons and limes are known for their pronounced tart and zest. Unlike oranges and grapefruits, these members of the citrus family are rarely consumed by themselves and are instead used in recipes and drinks with other ingredients.
Both the lemon and lime have lesser-known sister fruits. The rough lemon is a hybrid used mostly as a rootstock for other citrus trees. The leech lime or kaffir lime is found in China, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. Its peel is considered its most valuable part, often serving as a key ingredient for curry paste in Southeast Asian cuisine.
-
The Tasty Snacks
-
Tangerines, tangelos, mandarins and clementines are hybrids from the orange family tree. These smaller, easier to peel beauties are sweet, juicy and high in vitamin C and other nutrients.
The Exotic Few
-
Other lesser-known members of the citrus family are the ugli, kumquat and oroblanco or sweetie. The ugli is a rare variety of tangelo grown only in Jamaica and is known for its sweet and tangy flavor. The kumquat is known in some quarters as "the little gem of the citrus family." In China, where they are believed to have originated, kumquats are known as "golden oranges." Their outer layer is actually edible and spicy, while their inner fruit is sweet with very little pulp. The sweetie is a hybrid fruit from the pomelo and the white grapefruit. It tends to be larger than a grapefruit but with fewer seeds. As its name implies, the sweetie is known for its superior sweetness.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
