orange

The orange is a fruit also by the name Orange is known. It belongs to the genus of citrus plants and originally comes from China.

What you should know about the orange

Orange trees are small or medium in size and have green leaves in every season. They belong to the evergreen trees and can be up to ten meters tall. The treetops are round and regularly branched.

The young branches can be studded with long thorns. However, these are rather blunt. The articulated foliage leaves sit alternately and spirally on the branches. The leaf blade is clearly separated from the petiole. It is dark green and leathery in consistency. The leaves are oval and taper towards the end. The fragrant flowers of the orange are arranged in racemose inflorescences. They are colored white. In Europe, the orange blooms from February to June. In China, the flowering period is from April to May. The orange tree develops fruits without cross-fertilization. The ripe fruits are orange in color.

A white skin sits directly under the orange peel. The fruit is divided into individual sediments, which are separated from each other by thin white skins. The white skin of the shell and the skins of the individual sediments have grown together. The orange is therefore difficult to peel. A pleasant orange scent is released when peeling. This is due to the oil glands that are in the shell. They contain the aromatic essential oil of orange.

The orange originally comes from China. It was created there from a cross between grapefruit and mandarin. Grapefruit and tangerine not only make the sweet oranges, but also the bitter orange. The bitter orange reached Europe as early as the 11th century. It was grown in Italy mainly for its essential oil, neroli oil. The sweet oranges weren't brought to Europe until the 15th century. For a long time they were grown there exclusively in Portugal. Today oranges are grown all over the world.

The largest producers are Brazil, the USA, China and India. In Europe, the harvest takes place in August, September and October. Many different types of oranges are harvested. The oranges can be divided into bitter oranges, blonde oranges, navel oranges and blood oranges. The acid-free oranges are another variety.

Importance to health

Oranges not only convince with their sweet and fruity taste, they also have many valuable ingredients. Oranges are known for their high vitamin C content. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant.

It protects the body's cells from the harmful influence of free radicals. Vitamin C also activates an enzyme in the liver that supports the organ's important excretion and detoxification functions. Vitamin C also keeps the blood vessels healthy. It protects the body's arteries from calcification and can therefore prevent cardiovascular diseases.

Vitamin C is not the only antioxidant in orange. Oranges contain various phytochemicals that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. They strengthen the immune system so that the body can render viruses and bacteria harmless more quickly. The B-group vitamins it contains protect the nervous system and are required for the production of serotonin. Serotonin is the happiness hormone. So in a way, oranges can also make you happy.

The essential oil of orange is also used in aromatherapy. It is extracted from the peel and has an antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, circulatory stimulating, anticonvulsant and lymph flow-stimulating effect. Because of these diverse effects, it is used to treat lymphatic congestion, colds, cellulite, bladder infections or depressive moods.

Ingredients & nutritional values

100 grams of oranges contain 50 milligrams of vitamin C. Thus, the daily requirement of vitamin C can be covered with just 150 grams of oranges. Oranges also contain vitamin B1, vitamin B2, nicotinamide and some minerals such as iron or phosphorus. The healthy fruit is quite low in calories due to its high water content. 100 grams of orange pulp contains only 47 calories. So an orange has an average of 68 calories.

Intolerances & allergies

In some people, citrus fruits can cause allergic reactions. However, food allergies to oranges are relatively rare. Most people who are allergic to oranges develop an oral allergy syndrome. This is expressed by a furry feeling on the tongue, swelling of the lips or by the formation of blisters on the skin and mucous membrane. The allergic symptoms do not have to appear immediately. Sometimes a reaction does not show up until a day or two after eating the fruit. Similar symptoms can also be triggered by a fructose intolerance.

Often, intolerances are not directed against the ingredients of the citrus fruits, but against the preservatives and pesticides with which the peel of the fruit is treated. Except in organic farming, oranges are usually treated with thiabendazole, orthophenylphenol or imazalil.

Shopping & kitchen tips

When shopping for oranges, you should ensure that the peel of the oranges has a rich orange color. A pale skin may indicate that the fruit is not yet ripe.

Ripe and fresh oranges smell aromatic and fruity. A musty or musty odor is a sign of mold growth. The freshness of the oranges can also be checked with pressure. A ripe orange feels firm but not too hard. The shell should give slightly when pressed. An orange that is too soft is usually older. If the peel does not give in at all when pressed, the orange is probably already dried out.

When buying oranges, the size of the fruit should also be considered. The small and medium-sized fruits taste the sweetest and most aromatic. The large oranges also have a thick skin. The smaller oranges therefore have proportionally more pulp. The heavier the fruit, the higher the juice content. Heavy fruits should therefore be preferred when buying. So that oranges can be kept for as long as possible and do not lose their aroma during storage, they should be stored in a cool place. The optimal temperature is between 5 and 8 ° C. The cellar or the vegetable compartment in the refrigerator is ideal. If the oranges are stored in the cellar, care should be taken that there are no potatoes around. The oranges can take on the rather musty aroma of the potatoes.

It should also be stored in a dry place. Moisture causes mold to develop quickly. The condensation in the refrigerator should be caught. At best, the fruits are wrapped in a kitchen towel.

Preparation tips

The aromatic and pleasantly sweet pulp of the orange goes well with many dishes. The orange can refine salads and can be combined well with other fruits, meat, fish or vegetables. Dips and sauces can also be prepared well with the fruits. Oranges go well with hearty main courses as well as sweet desserts. Of course, the fruits can also be eaten straight. The vitamin-rich orange juice can also be obtained from the juice oranges.