Can You Pick a Favorite? Your Expert Guide to Types of Oranges

There are so many delicious oranges to choose from, we can't pick just one citrus! Here is a guide to the many types of oranges to try. What will you choose?

Did you know that there are only two different categories of oranges?

Each category has several varieties within, making orange decisions a little more complicated.

All oranges fall into the category of either sweet or bitter, so which ones do you prefer?

Continue reading to discover the popular types of oranges and what each one has to offer.

The Expert Guide on Types of Oranges 

As mentioned above, oranges can be sweet or bitter, however, there have been some hybrids that we have all come to love. 

If you are looking to grow citrus, oranges shouldn't be overlooked when making your selection. They have many health benefits and taste amazing. Growing a tree isn't too difficult and gives you the ability to readily have oranges that you can eat and cook with. 

So what are some of the types of oranges that you can choose from? 

1. Blood Orange

This is an extremely unique type of orange, it has a thicker peel and on the inside is a bright ruby red color that resembles blood (hence the name).

Blood oranges are both sweet and tart and give off a strong fragrance that will make your mouth water. They are dense and filled with a lot of juice, making it a perfect option for smoothies, snacking, and cooking with.   

2. Navel Orange

Navel oranges are the standard type of orange that nearly every grocery store or market has to offer. 

They have a thick skin but are easy to peel and go great with salads and for afternoon snacks. Navel oranges are not as juicy as compared to blood oranges and they offer a more bitter taste. 

3. Mandarin Orange

Mandarin oranges are often much smaller than other types of oranges and have a sweeter taste with little acidity. 

The thin skin that they have makes them easy to peel so that you can get your citrus easily. Clementines and tangerines fall into this variety of orange, which is very popular among consumers. 

Mandarin oranges are excellent sources of Vitamin A and C, making them a healthy option to snack on. 

4. Bergamot Orange 

Have you ever had Earl Grey tea? 

If so, you may be familiar with the taste of a bergamot orange because it's peel is used in the tea. Not only is it a main ingredient for tea time, but it is also used as a perfume.

Bergamot orange has a unique fragrance that you won't forget. It can be either yellow or green, depending on how ripe it is, and is a hybrid of bitter orange and lemon. 

5. Valencia Orange

The Valencia orange is a sweet option that won't have you disappointed in the summer when it is harvested.  

Many people believe that they come from the city in Spain, but they, in fact, come from California. They are one of the most popular types consumed because of their delicious taste and abundance of juice. 

Orange You Glad You Know All the Types? 

There are many different types of oranges and trees to choose from, and each option is unique in its own way. 

Selecting your favorite orange can be difficult because each one has benefits and can be used for a variety of dishes, drinks, jams, and perfumes. 

Try our seasonal citrus box while its available...the Craft Citrus Club!

Our Rio box is a 15-lb curated box of our fresh-harvested citrus from South Texas. The fruit is NOT gassed, rather it is tree-ripened. Our season runs from Nov-May for  oranges, grapefruit and mandarins.

Our Grande box is a 30-lb box of either fresh-harvested Rio Red Grapefruit or Sweet Oranges from South Texas.