Why Cara Cara’s are the Best Winter Fruit

 

As round and bright gold as the sun, oranges might make us think of summer days, but actually they (like most citrus fruits) come into season during the wintertime in North America. Lucky for us, too, since that’s exactly when our immune systems can use a helpful boost!

It’s a well-established fact that oranges are good for you, and if you ask, most people will name vitamin C as the reason. It’s true that eating a single orange will meet your vitamin C needs for the day, and that can go a long way toward warding off the common cold when the weather is damp and dreary. What you may not know is that oranges are also excellent sources of the following nutrients:

• Vitamin A. Important for eye health, growth and development, and a healthy reproductive system.
• Fiber. Great for digestive health and fills you up so you don’t feel as hungry.
• Folate: Necessary for healthy cell growth and red blood cell formation (crucial during pregnancy).
• Potassium. Helps your muscles to work and regulates your blood pressure.

To stay health all winter long, making oranges a regular part of your diet is a great choice. But what if you’re not a fan?

The Cara Cara: How Sweet it Is!

If the orange’s tangy-sweet flavor is a little too tangy for your tastes, we’ve got great news – Cara Cara Oranges are known for their sweetness!

If typically tart fruits aren’t your thing, the Cara Cara is for you. Cara Cara season coincides with Navel Orange season – in fact, Cara Cara’s are a type of navel oranges, which means they’re seedless. But they’re less acidic, which means they taste a lot sweeter than the Classic Navel.

How can you tell a Cara Cara Navel from a Classic Navel? Going by the outside of the fruit it might be problematic, but once you peel a Cara Cara you won’t be able to mistake it for anything else. The fruit’s flesh is pink in color and has a slightly floral scent. Many people describe the sweet undertones of the fruit’s flesh as reminiscent of cherries, red raspberries, or blackberries. Some people confuse Cara Cara’s with pink grapefruit or even Blood Oranges, but the flesh of a Cara Cara is much paler than that of a Blood Orange, and the flavor entirely different from a grapefruit.

Where Can I find Cara Cara Oranges for Sale?

Can’t find them in stores? Not to worry…you can buy Cara Cara Oranges online at Pittman & Davis. You can find Cara Cara oranges for sale at Pittman & Davis whenever they’re in season. And when you buy Cara Cara Oranges from Pittman & Davis, you’ll know you’re getting the freshest and best fruit available. Still on the tree at the time you make your purchase, we’ll have your Cara Cara Oranges delivered as fast as possible so you can enjoy them at their peak of flavor and freshness.

Extra Health Benefits of Cara Cara Navels

You get all the name nutrients in a Cara Cara Navel Orange as you would in a classic Navel Orange – plus one more: lycopene.

Found in tomatoes and watermelons, lycopene is a naturally occurring pigment that gives the flesh of the Cara Cara Navel its unusual pink color. But lycopene is more than just a pigment – it’s also a powerful antioxidant that’s been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. This means that Cara Cara’s are good for your cardiovascular system in a way regular Navels aren’t.

Ways to Enjoy Cara Cara Oranges

The simplest way to enjoy a fresh Cara Cara Navel is fresh out of hand as a tasty snack. But the segments also make wonderful additions to salads, Asian-style sauces, marinades, salsas, and yogurt. The juice of Cara Cara Navels is also excellent when added to sparkling water, cocktails/mocktails, or in a citrus vinaigrette.

Refresh your diet – and your health! – with tasty Cara Cara Navels this season and find out for yourself why Cara Cara Oranges are one of the best winter fruits.