One of the most interesting members of the orange family is the blood orange. Just the name itself, brings intrigue. What most people don't know is that there are multiple varieties of blood oranges, each having their own unique characteristics. For the most part, Moro Blood Oranges are the ones you will find the majority of the time if you live in the United States. In fact it has been the only variety of blood orange I have been able to find until last month. I discovered the Tarocco variety at my local Trader Joe's. These particular oranges were imported from Italy. In the Meditation, blood oranges are more popular for juicing than Valencias.
My Experience with this Orange (Rating Scale 1-10)
Seeded or Seedless: Seedless (although I have heard they could have a few seeds, but I have never had in mine)
Sweetness: 8
Acidity : 7
Orange Flavor: 9
Juiciness: 7
Overall Feeling: These are by far the best tasting blood oranges I have had. They are very sweet, with a complex flavor. It kind of has a berry line undertone in it's flavor. The orange segments themselves are pretty, with multiple colors ranging from yellow to orange to red. 
The orange contains a pigment called anthocyanin. This is what gives blood oranges their color as well as providing valuable antioxidants. The rind is mostly orange, with a little hint of red, not as much red on the outside as the Moro. I went back to Trader Joe's to get a couple more bags. I like these so much better than the Moro (even the ones I bought from a farmer's market in California).
Availability: I have heard this variety is available in the US from March to May.
Leave a Reply