Texas Navel Oranges!
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With the citrus season in Texas drawing to a close and still reeling from 2021's devastating freeze, supporting our local citrus growers has never been more important! While Texas navel orange season started late November and they're sort of available year-round, they taste best when they are in peak season.
Hint: Texas Navel Orange season runs from November till June!
Aside from Ruby Red Grapefruits, Texas Navel Oranges are probably my favorite locally grown fruits! For me, they are as perfect as a fruit can be!
What do Texas Navel Oranges Taste Like?
Texas Navel Oranges taste like what you would expect a navel orange would. They're sweet, naturally juicy, has a strong citrus taste, and the best part? They're seedless! They also have really thin skin that makes them really easy to peel so there's no muss and no fuss when it comes to snacking.
The only downside I can think of when it comes to Texas Navel Oranges is that if you juice them, you have to consume the juice within 30 minutes due to the presence of Limonin, but aside from that, nothing, perfect fruit!
How to Pick the Best Texas Navel Oranges
Whilte Texas Navel Oranges are usually sold in 10-pound bags (go big or don't go at all right?) but if you're buying them by piece, here are some things to be mindful so so that you'll get the best value for your money.
Look for firm Texas Navel Oranges - Press the oranges a little bit to feel that they're still firm. Avoid squishy feeling oranges because those may have become damaged along the way!
Look for a solid orange color - Avoid Navel Oranges with patches of green because those are still unripe.
Look out for mold - If there are bits of mold on the orange, avoid them! Mold and food never make a good combo, unless you're talking about cheese.
Beauty is only skin deep - If you see scrapes or scratches on your Texas Navel Oranges, these are fine. These are called wind scars and they occur naturally from the fruit scraping against the branches of the tree.
What Differentiates Texas Navel Oranges from Other Navel Oranges?
Remember the saying, everything is bigger in Texas? Well, that applies to navel oranges as well! Primarily grown in the Rio Grande Valley, Texas Navel Oranges are known for their larger than normal size. The rich soil of the Rio Grande Valley causes the oranges to grow to amazing sizes. Since navel oranges are all seedless, they're all actually from a single variety, and if the stories are to be believed, all navel orange trees can trace their ancestry back to a single orange tree from Brazil over 200 years ago!
Nutrition Facts: How Many Calories in a Texas Navel Orange?
Just like its siblings, Texas navel oranges are an excellent source of vitamin C. They are low in calories. Per fruit is less than 100 calories, making it a perfect choice if you want a sweet, satisfying snack without worrying about gaining weight.
They are high in carbs but most of them are fiber. While rich in fiber and protein, this fruit is low in sodium.
It is high in hesperidin, which is an antioxidant that can help in reducing cardiovascular disease. It also lowers blood pressure.
What is the "Navel" in Texas Navel Oranges?
The "navel" you see on Texas Navel Oranges or navel oranges in general is actually an undeveloped fruit "twin". This is the result of a mutation that occurred on a single tree about 200 years ago. A Presbyterian missionary came upon a navel orange in the mid-1800s. Due to its sweetness and lack of seeds, he made a cutting and propagated the plant before sending samples to William Saunders at the USDA in Washington. And the rest? Well, it's what we say, history.
The sweet and tangy flavor of an orange makes it the perfect fruit for mindful eating. Check out this article for information about mindfulness and how to incorporate it into your daily life.
