Oranges are the most underrated fruits. We eat them regularly, but they do not get the credits that they deserve. They are sweet, they are juicy, they are filled with nutrients and they are light on the stomach, what more do you need from a fruits? As the name itself says, oranges are orange in colour. But, sometimes the peel may be yellow or green. The taste varies from sour to very sweet. You must include oranges in your fruit basket for its inherent benefits.

Here are some interesting facts about oranges –

Scientific description –

Orange is a citrus fruit belonging to the family Rutaceae. In reality, orange is a hybrid, of pomelo and mandarin which are citrus breeds. There are many types of oranges such as bitter orange, mandarin orange, sweet orange, bergamot orange and trifoliate orange. Usually an orange is round in shape. The outer peel is acidic and easy to remove. The inside consists of many pockets of crescent shaped fruits. These have a soft skin and many seeds inside them. The pulp inside this skin is soft and juicy.

History –

The mention of sweet oranges is seen in Chinese literature as early as 314 BC. But today, we can see oranges are cultivated all around the world. They grow the best in tropical and subtropical climates. India, Brazil, US, Africa, Australia, Europe and many other countries grow oranges.

Consumption –

The fruit can be eaten fresh or ground into a juice. It can also be added to cakes and pastries. The oranges also make great pudding stuffing. As they are rich in vitamin c, oranges are the best fruit all around the year.

Uses –

• They are used to produce citrus. 70% of the citrus produced is by oranges.

• The presence of phyto nutrients has helps in the healing of body damages.

• It will help in lowering blood pressure.

• It has many anti-inflammatory properties.

• It is a very important fruit in increasing the immune system.

• It helps to reduce the cholesterol levels in the body.

• It is protective against cardiovascular diseases.

• It will help in preventing kidney stones.

• Oranges are a good source of fibre and thus will offer relief from constipation.

• They help in the proper functioning of the digestive system.

• The oranges are good for the skin. It rejuvenates the skin and lessens dark spots and tans.

• It can also reduce ulcers and the risk of stomach cancer.

• It strengthens your respiratory system.

• It protects against rheumatoid arthritis.

Preparation –

• Oranges, apples, pineapple, and grapes should be cut into medium sized pieces. To this add a dash of salt and pepper. It is a very light and tasty salad to eat on a hot summer day.

• Take an orange and juice it up. Use the juice instead of water while baking a cake. The flavour of oranges will add to the deliciousness of the cake.

With oranges having so many benefits, it is but fair to use them in your fruit baskets UK. They are tasty and healthy.

This entry was posted on Friday, August 12th, 2016 at 1:14 pm and is filed under fruit baskets. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.