Citrus Fruits Varieties

Citrus fruits are usually characterized by thick outer skin and juicy pulp inside. These are typically grown in warm regions, and most of the citrus fruits in the U.S are grown in Florida and California. Citrus fruits are known to be rich in vitamin C, which is critical for a healthy immune system.

Below are some of the common citrus fruits varieties:

1. Pomelo: This tangy citrus fruit is pale green to yellow when ripe, with sweet white flesh inside and very thick skin. These are usually found in Southeast Asia, and are excellent sources of vitamin C and potassium.

2. Kumquat: These resemble oranges, but are slightly smaller and ovular. These are most commonly found in East Asia and Southeast Asia, and some of its species are also found in the U.S. These are again excellent sources of vitamin C and antioxidants, and are also rich in iron, potassium and vitamin B.

How do I Dry Citrus Fruit?

I would like to dry my citrus fruit such as limes, lemons and oranges. Is it possible to dry citrus fruit for human consumption? If so how do I dry citrus fruit?

It is possible to dry citrus fruit – but usually only the peel. That’s because the flesh is too juicy and soft to dry well: you’ll be left with a chewy husk. Better options would be to preserve or freeze the citrus fruits. The citrus peel will, however, dry beautifully, and you can then store and use it in cakes and Moroccan stews.

Freeze in syrup Orange (or lime or lemon) segments can be frozen, and they’ll keep better if you pack them in a sweetened syrup. The sugar preserves the plumpness and colour of the segments. To preserve them in this way, pack peeled orange segments into containers – sturdy glass or plastic, freezer-proof containers work best – then make a syrup using fresh juice or water (2 parts sugar, 1 part water) and pour it carefully over the top. Allow 1cm (per pint) space at the top of the container, seal, and put into the freezer. NOTE: Some citrus fruits, such as Navel oranges, become bitter when subjected to freezing (caused by compounds in the peel). It’s wise to test this technique using one fruit before storing all of your citrus in this way. If the fruit doesn’t respond well to being frozen, you could squeeze and freeze the juice only in ice-cube trays, and dry the peel (see below).

13 Ways to Use Citrus Fruits in your Apartment

Have you been contemplating ways to naturally clean your home due your sustainable lifestyle? Have you also increased the amount of citrus fruits you’ve been eating since its summer? If you answered yes to both of these questions you are fully capable of cleaning your apartment in a natural manner with things already in your home. Consider these 15 ways to use citrus fruits in your apartment:

       1. Polish copper by rubbing it with a cloth soaked in lemon juice, brass and aluminum with paste made of lemon juice and tartar.
       2. Remove lime scale, hard water stains, and soap residue by rubbing lemons on your faucets.
       3. Whiten tennis shoes by spraying them with lemon juice and placing them in the sun.
       4. Create a mild, stain-free bleach from lemon juice and baking soda. Soak soiled clothes in it for at least 30 mins.
       5. Remove underarm stains from shirts scrubbing them with a mixture of equal parts lemon juice (or white vinegar) and water.

Types of Citrus Fruits

Citrus Fruit List

Citrus fruits belong to the Family Rutaceae. They are edible, pulpy fruits that can be eaten either by peeling off the skin or squeezing out its juice. Countries in the Mediterranean regions were leading producers of citrus fruits. However, the cultivation of these fruits has spread out to many countries in the world. Citrus fruits are largely harvested in countries with warm climates.

The most common citrus fruits are oranges and lemons; however, there are several other different kinds of citrus fruits around, which we may not be aware of. This list will show you a complete list of citrus fruits:

Lime: Lime contains more amounts of acid and detoxifying agents good for cleaning. It is yellow-green in color and is usually used for culinary purposes. Read on for more lime juice uses.

Mandarin Orange: Also known as the mandarin or mandarine in some cases, this seedless orange is sweeter than most any varieties of orange available. Mandarin packs a wallop with its high fiber content. It is also fat and cholesterol free. Mandarin essential oil has been used as an anti-spasmodic because of its tonic effect on the digestive system.

Citrus Fruit Benefits

Oranges are the best citrus source of vitamin C, right?

Yes. One medium orange has about 70 milligrams (mg) of vitamin C, nearly enough to meet your basic daily needs. But ounce for ounce, lemons actually contain the most (77 mg in 3.5 ounces), followed by oranges (53 mg), pink grapefruit (37 mg), white grapefruit (33 mg), limes (29 mg), and tangerines (27 mg). The exact amount depends on where the fruit was grown, how it was handled, and even where on the tree it was located.

What else is in citrus?

Citrus fruits are a good source of folate and potassium, with small amounts of magnesium, calcium, and other nutrients. They are often rich in fiber — notably pectin, a soluble fiber that helps lower cholesterol. One medium orange has 3 grams of fiber. They also contain dozens of phytochemicals, including carotenoids and limonoids. Citrus flavonoids such as hesperetin (in oranges), naringin (in grapefruit), and tangeritin (in tangerines) have been shown in lab studies to have cholesterol-lowering, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties. Red/pink grapefruit is one of the best sources of the carotenoid lycopene.

Heart-Smart Citrus Fruit

When you want to squeeze every bit of flavor—and a good dose of antioxidants—out of winter fruits, reach for an orange, grapefruit, lemon, or tangerine. They’re no slouches in nutrition, either. Splash some juice or toss a handful of chopped fruit over a salad, or even into a dessert, and you’ll get a boost of vitamin C, an antioxidant that helps the body’s cells resist damage. In fact, the antioxidants in citrus may play a role in preventing cardiovascular disease and cancer.

A small study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry reported a 15 percent drop in cholesterol in patients who ate one red grapefruit a day. The patients had recently undergone heart bypass surgery. A 2007 study—this one on rats—showed that a citrus-based diet reduced cholesterol levels by
20–25 percent, even though the rats were munching on foods loaded with cholesterol.

It’s easy to make citrus work for you. Reach for citrus fruits instead of fat- and sugar-laden snacks. One orange provides nearly all the daily vitamin C a healthy person needs.

The Goodness of Oranges and Citrus Fruits

Unfortunately, oranges, like all citrus fruits, are acidic and are likely to give babies younger than 12 months old rashes. The acid can cause terrible diaper rashes and even rashes around the mouth an lips due to the high levels of acidity.

With that being said, many parents have offered their younger infants tastes of oranges, orange juice or other acidic fruits and have had no reactions. If you want to introduce citrus earlier than by all means give it a try but please be on the lookout for possible reactions!

note With new studies being released since 2008, the AAP now says that there may be no need to delay foods that are typically allergenic. This applies mostly to babies who have no known allergy/sensitivity risks. If you wish to introduce citrus foods earlier than previously recommended, just watch for any reactions. As with other acidic foods, if your baby is prone to sensitivities with foods, you may want to wait to introduce Oranges until after his first birthday.