Now is the time to dive into the delicious world of Cara Cara oranges! This navel orange is a cross between the Washington Navel and the Brazilian Bahia. They look like a regular navel orange on the outside, but have distinctly pink flesh… closer to a grapefruit (and often mistaken for blood orange).
Compared to other navel oranges, Cara Cara oranges are unique because they contain twenty percent more vitamin C and thirty percent more vitamin A. Cara Cara oranges are also a good source of dietary fiber, folate, potassium, and lycopene. Although they typically peak in April, you can still find them abundant and sweet in hotter climates well through June.
These oranges are less ‘tangy’ than their counterparts, mainly due to low acidity. Cara Cara oranges are not only sweet, some have even described ‘berry overtones.’ They can be eaten plain, or juiced for a distinctly pink, distinctly sweet drink. They are typically grown in California, but can be accessed in other places. So if you can get you hands on one (or a dozen), don’t hesitate.