Looking for some of the healthiest citrus fruits? Here is a list of the top 10 citrus fruits and their benefits for you to enjoy.
10 Healthiest Citrus Fruits and their Benefits.
Lemon
Did you know a lemon tree can produce a box (about 600 pounds) of lemons annually? It is one of the healthiest citrus fruits out there. Lemons are bright yellow citrus fruits widely cultivated for their sour, zesty taste, fragrant peel, and juice. Native to Asia, it is often used in cooking, baking, cleaning, and even skincare. Lemons are enriched with vitamin C, antioxidants, and citric acid, which help detoxify the body, improve digestion, and brighten the skin. It has a sour taste and is commonly used in Jewish and Middle Eastern cuisine because of its savory skin and juice.
Lemons can be consumed in many ways, but my favorite is the classic way to drink a chilled lemon soda on a hot summer day. Oh! That sparkling fresh feeling.
Orange
Oranges are the most popular citrus fruits known for their sweet and juicy taste. It is often eaten fresh but can also be used in many recipes, from salads to desserts. Oranges are one of the most popularly consumed citrus fruits worldwide. Oranges have a sweet and slightly sour flavor, making them a versatile ingredient featured in many dishes.
A famous orange recipe is a tangy orange sauce with orange juice, soy sauce, honey, and chili flakes. A popular Chinese-American dish featuring crispy coated chicken and orange chicken.
Tangerines
Tangerines are smaller and sweeter than oranges and are often eaten as a snack. They can also be used in salads or in desserts. One famous recipe that uses tangerines is the ‘Tangerine Sorbet.’ This refreshing dessert is made with tangerine juice, sugar, and water and is perfect for a hot summer day.
Tangerines are small, sweet, and easy-to-peel citrus fruits native to China. They have thin, loose skin that separates easily from the pulp. Tangerines are tangy yet sweet, making them a popular snack or ingredient in salads and desserts.
Blood Orange
Blood oranges are a variant of orange with dark red flesh. Sweet and slightly sour, it is often used in cocktails and as a side dish. A famous recipe using blood oranges is the ‘Blood Orange Margarita.’ Made with tequila, lime juice, and blood orange juice, this cocktail is perfect for a party or a night out.
Blood oranges are orange with distinctive dark red flesh and a sweet, slightly sour flavor. Rich in anthocyanins, it is an antioxidant that gives it its unique color and health benefits. Blood oranges are often used as a side dish in cocktails, desserts, or salads.
Grapefruit
Grapefruits are larger than oranges and have a sour and bitter taste. It is often eaten for breakfast or added to salads. A famous recipe using grapefruit is grapefruit and avocado salad. This refreshing salad features grapefruit chunks, avocado, arugula, and honey-lime dressing.
Native to Barbados, it is often eaten for breakfast or in salads. Grapefruits are rich in vitamin C, potassium, and fiber, which help reduce inflammation, regulate blood pressure, and promote healthy digestion.
Lime
Lime is a small citrus fruit with a sour taste. It is often used in cocktails and Mexican cuisine. A famous recipe using lime is a margarita. This classic cocktail is perfect for a night out with friends and is made with tequila, lime juice, triple sec, and salt, served in a salt-rimmed glass.
Lime is rich in vitamin C, flavonoids, and limonoids, which strengthen the immune system, fight free radicals and prevent cancer. It is often used in cocktails, sauces, marinades, or as a garnish in Mexican and Southeast Asian cuisine.
Kinnow
Kinnow is a tangerine and orange hybrid widely grown in Pakistan and India. It has a sweet and citrusy flavor and is often eaten raw or added to salads. A famous recipe used by Kinnow is Kinnow Jam. This sweet and savory spread is made with Kinnow juice, sugar, and water and is perfect for breakfast toast. Kinnows are rich in vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants to improve skin health, boost immunity and reduce the risk of chronic disease.
Sweet Lime
Sweet limes are a type of lime that is sweeter than regular limes and are often used in Indian cuisine. One famous recipe that uses sweet lime is Sweet Lime Soda. This refreshing drink features sweet lime juice, soda water, and a pinch of salt.
Sweet limes have thin and smooth skin and juicy pulp inside. They can be eaten as a snack or used in drinks, desserts, or chutneys. Sweet limes are rich in Vitamin C, antioxidants, and minerals, which help improve digestion, boost immunity, and maintain healthy skin.
Clementine
Clementines are a type of tangerine with a sweet, juicy flavor. It is often eaten as a snack or added to salads. A famous recipe using clementines is clementine cake. This delicious cake has clementine peel and juice, almond flour, and eggs.
Clementines are small, seedless citrus fruits that are a hybrid of tangerine and orange. Native to North Africa, it is famous for its sweet and juicy taste. Rich in vitamin C, folic acid, and fiber, it supports heart health, boosts brain function, and regulates blood sugar levels. Clementines have thin skin and are accessible to peel, making them easy to eat as an ingredient in salads and desserts.
Citron
Citron is a large citrus fruit similar to a lemon but with a thicker and rougher skin. It has a tart and acidic taste and is commonly used in Jewish and Middle Eastern cuisine for its fragrant zest and juice. Citron is rich in Vitamin C, flavonoids, and limonoids, which help protect against oxidative stress, boost immunity, and promote liver function.
One famous recipe that uses citron is Etrog Jam, a traditional Jewish spread made with citron fruit, sugar, and water, often served during the holiday of Sukkot.
The bottom line
Citrus fruits are not only delicious, but they are also nutritious. It can be used in various dishes, from salads to desserts to cocktails. Remember to shop next time you go to the supermarket.
