What Citrus "Type" Are You?

 Spring is in the air, and love is all around as nature celebrates the warmer, beautiful weather. This is the time of year when we start to see pairings happen across the animal kingdom. It's also a time when us humans find some pep in our step (if we're not battling pollen allergies, but that's a topic for the next blog) and sparkle in our eye. We are ready to begin anew, to make new friends and try new things. 

As with anything in life, some people, places, and things are well matched to us, and others may be not so much. We often refer to good matches as our "type," i.e. "This is my type of person," or "This is my type of food." While all citrus varieties are great, have you ever considered which one is most your "type?" Let's look at a few varieties and see what kind of person matches each to make a perfect pear--er, pair!

The Classic Style Person: Navel Orange

Clean lines, sweet fruit, no pesky seeds: the classic navel orange is perfect for the person who likes solid colors, a put together look, an organized life, and a definitive style that, like their fruit counterpart, is straightforward and satisfying. Classic Navel people have happy childhood memories that inform their current life, They love traditions and holidays, family time and healthy routines. 

The Carefree Outdoorsperson: Honeybell

 

The Honeybell lover knows all about the seasons, impermanence, and enjoying the sweetness of life in all of its various stages. Honeybells have a relatively shorter season than other varieties, and as such are particularly treasured during the two short months in late winter and early spring when they can be harvested. Honeybell lovers tend to flow freely between the seasons, treasuring each experience along the way.

The Cutie: Tangerine

Six-year old Ami, pictured above, describes herself as artistic, hungry, funny, fun-loving, colorful, and active. These traits are a perfect match for the easy-peel tangerine. They are so simple to peel and eat, and each segment is like a little piece of nature candy (but a whole lot healthier)! Tangerines are a great match for kids and kids-at-heart. If you are on the go and move a little quicker than average, tangerines are your match!

The Health and Wellness Guru: Grapefruit

Grapefruit are less recognized than oranges and tangerines because, in addition to the sweet juiciness that all citrus fruits contain, they can also have mild to strong bitter notes. This taste is lauded by health aficionados as being exceptionally good for you, as it comes from a flavonoid called naringin. Bitterness is usually associated with the rind of most citrus fruits; in grapefruit, it is also infused into the flesh, making the naringin more bioavailable. Flavonoids are powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents that are powerful allies in keeping the body disease-free. Health-conscious folks are drawn to grapefruit for this reason, and like their favorite fruits, folks committed to daily healthy habits are willing to take the bitter and the sweet together to reap the benefits. Want to lessen the bitter notes but keep the health benefits of naringin? Try sprinkling some salt on your grapefruit slices, wedges, or halves!

The Cultured Foodie: Cara Cara

Also known as scarlet navels, Cara Cara oranges have all the a-"peel" of classic navels, with a dramatic twist: their flesh is a vibrant red color, reminiscent of stunning sunsets after a stormy afternoon. Like their classic navel cousins, they are seedless and satisfying. They are also a great choice for making a unique and very healthy red orange juice! These oranges pair well with more spicy, fiery, passionate personalities, and especially those with flair who like to wear red and make a dramatic statement.

Can't decide? No problem! Unlike human to human matches, in the case of citrus you can change your type depending on the day. You can be fickle. You can even match with two or more varieties at the same time and not cause any scandal at all. 

What's your citrus type today?

Sources:

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-are-flavonoids

https://www.womansworld.com/food-recipes/cooking-tips-techniques/grapefruit-bitter-flavor

www.orangesonline.com