As they are some of the most familiar fruits around, you could make a whole list of citrus fruits. Lemons and oranges, however, are the most popular. Whether it’s as juice, fruits, or some other product, there are many ways to enjoy these beloved treats. Perhaps you may even be aware that lemons and oranges have many varieties. It’s not just the ones you see at your local grocery.
With that, did you know that there are so many citrus fruits around? Indeed, citrus is one of the most diverse fruit groups. Some exist in nature, while others are hybrids of existing plants. And some are themselves hybrids of hybrids! Whether you are looking for something familiar or something exotic, here is a list of 30 citrus fruits to savor your zesty cravings.
What is a Citrus Fruit Anyway?
Before we start this list, it may be worth talking about what makes a citrus fruit a citrus fruit. The term mostly refers to the fruits of any plant in the family Rutaceae. Most commonly, the term refers to members of the genus Citrus.
Citrus fruits have several distinctive characteristics. They are hesperidiums, a kind of botanical berry with easily removable skin. Yes, oranges and lemons are technically berries, at least in the botanical sense. A botanical berry refers to a fruit that grew from a single flower ovary. Other examples of botanical berries are pumpkins, bananas, and watermelons. However, while grapes and blueberries are true berries, strawberries are not.
Another distinctive feature of most citrus fruits is that they have segmented parts. You can easily see this segmentation with an orange or lemon cross-section. In some citruses such as mandarin orange, the segments can be separated.
Finally, citrus fruits have a wide variety of flavors. Most of them have a noticeable sour taste, a result of citric acid. Some are sweet, while some are bitter. Variety is the spice of life it seems for the citrus family.
Orange
We start with perhaps the most familiar citrus fruit around, the orange. No list of citrus fruits would be complete without it. In reality, many types of oranges exist. The one you’re probably thinking about is actually the sweet orange. It’s known for its, well, sweet taste. However, it’s not necessarily the sweetest orange variety around.
Oranges have a wide variety of uses. They are the main ingredient in orange juice. People also consume oranges on their own. Cooks can add them as ingredients in salads, cakes, and many other recipes. Orange slices can even add flavor to drinks and orange peels can be turned into candy.
Oranges may be one of the most common fruits around, but they also have many health benefits. Health experts claim that they are rich in vitamin C, which aids human growth. They’re also a rich source of potassium, one of the most essential nutrients around. A healthy dose of potassium can help lower the risk of ailments such as hypertension. Finally, the citric acid in oranges can even decrease the likelihood of kidney stones.
Incidentally, the sweet orange is actually a hybrid. It’s probably a cross between a mandarin orange and pomelo. If you’re curious about these fruits, don’t worry. We’ll get to them later in this list.
Yuzu
When you see a yuzu for the first time, you may notice that it looks similar to a mandarin orange. That’s because yuzus are actually a kind of mandarin orange hybrid. It does look similar to mandarin orange, except it’s yellow. That’s because botanists believe it to be a hybrid between that fruit and the Ichang papeda. Yuzus probably originated in China, but now commonly grow in Japan. Indeed, many Japanese dishes use the fruit for flavoring. One example is ponzu, a kind of soy sauce that uses yuzu juice as an ingredient.
According to health experts, yuzu’s main health benefit is its high level of antioxidants. Such a high level can decrease the risk of cancer and heart ailments. In addition, being a citrus fruit, it can also help prevent gout.