What are the best oranges for gifts?

When someone says citrus, the first fruit that comes to mind is a plump, juicy, sweet Orange that is delicious, flavorful and utterly refreshing. It could be because oranges are timeless fruits that are available in all four seasons. It may be because they symbolize happiness and determination. Or, perhaps, we picture oranges as the ideal citrus simply because they are bursting with a unique flavor that is not found in other fruits. No matter what it is that makes them extra special, sending a gift box or gift basket full of zesty, sweet oranges is a fabulous way to say, “Here’s to your health!”

Gift Fruit Baskets

There are many varieties of sweet and juicy oranges to choose from. Which variety should we add to our gift fruit baskets to best convey our message? Here’s a list of the best oranges to send as fruit gifts that will surely delight the sight, smell, and taste of our gift’s lucky recipients.

• Navel Oranges: Navel oranges are sweet winter oranges with a distinct undeveloped twin fruit that is navel-like on their blossom end. The easy to peel, slightly thick skin of Navels emits a pleasant floral aroma and contains aromatic oils with numerous benefits. The refreshingly sweet Navels are also packed with vitamins and other nutrients that help boost the immune system and ward off illness. Navel Oranges are available from November to June.
• Cara Cara Oranges: If you are looking for an orange with a big sweet taste and less acidic flavor, then look no further than Cara Cara Oranges. These sweet oranges are a hybrid of two varieties of Navel Orange and were first discovered in Venezuela in the mid 1970s. Like Navels, Cara Cara oranges have the same round shape and bright orange peel. What sets Cara Cara Oranges apart from other Navel varieties, aside from their remarkably sweet taste, is that they have a tinge of cranberry notes in the flavor, and are a beautiful pinkish-red color on the inside. What makes choosing Cara Cara oranges even better is that you will get 20% more Vitamin C and 30% more Vitamin A than the regular Navel orange. Cara Cara oranges are in season from December thru May.
• Blood Oranges: Popular Blood oranges are delightfully sweet oranges with a unique raspberry flavor and beautifully colored flesh. The flesh color varies from ruby, vermillion, crimson, to maroon or almost black. Unlike Cara Cara oranges, pigmentation on Blood oranges is caused by anthocyanins which only develop at night when the temperature is low. The anthocyanin which is responsible for the deep-red color of Blood Oranges is also a powerful antioxidant that has been shown to help lower the risk of some types of cancer. Blood Texas oranges are available from December to March.
• Honeybell Oranges: Honeybell Oranges, otherwise known as Minneola Tangelos, are a hybrid of the Dancy tangerine and the Duncan grapefruit. Honeybell oranges are bigger than regular oranges and slightly smaller than grapefruits. These oranges can be easily identified by their protruded stem-neck end that gives them a bell-like appearance. Honeybells are juicy (they actually have more juice than flesh) and offer a honey-sweet flavor with a hint of tang from its grapefruit parent. Because of their size, juiciness, premium taste, and availability they are often in such short supply that you cannot find them in local grocery stores. As such, Honeybell oranges have to be pre-ordered from the online stores of Honeybell citrus orchards. They are considered exceptionally prized treats that are only available in January.

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