Types and varieties of oranges

Each of the existing types of oranges has got particular characteristics. The same applies to the varieties of oranges (traditionals, sanguines, navel, navelinas, navelate), all of which are excellent fruits with high vitamin and mineral values.

Oranges are one of the most consumed citrus fruits, not only because of their sour or sweet taste, but also because of their nutritional value and their highly refreshing qualities.

Sour Oranges vs. Sweet Oranges

Sour or sweet oranges are a highly preferred fruit either for table consumption or juice, for both adults and children. There are 2 varieties of oranges, the citrus sinensis, which is characterised by its sweet taste, and the citrus aurantium which includes varieties of sour oranges.

Nutritionally they are very similar, but sour oranges are more often used to make essential oils used in perfumes, and as flavourings in food or medicine preparations. They are the most traditional and ancient oranges.

However, sweet oranges are consumed naturally and directly or in many preparations.

Types of sweet oranges

These citrus fruits have a natural sweet taste, very pleasant to the palate, which can be consumed directly, or after obtaining their juice through industrial processes.

Nowadays, there are many types of sweet oranges, and these can vary in size, pulp colour, maturity time, shape, and presence of seeds.

The best known types of sweet oranges are

– Navel oranges: This is a variety of sweet orange that is widely cultivated and is classified as the sweetest.

– White Oranges: This type of orange, without a navel and with little skin, is usually quite sweet.

– Sanguines Oranges: These oranges are distinguished by their red pulp and slightly acid taste, but with great sweetness.

Varieties of Navel Oranges

They are a natural mutation of the orange, characterized by the fact that a navel seems to come out of the bottom.

They mature early and their skin is easily removed. It also has small seeds and its pulp is orange colour, with a distinctive and marked sweet taste.

Navelina Oranges

Originally from California, they are a mutation of the Washington Navel orange. They have a remarkable navel, mature early and can be stored for up to 2 months.

They are large and rounded shape. They characterize for having dark orange colour skin and are seedless. They are fleshy and juicy, with an accentuated sweet taste.

Navelate Oranges

This type of orange is a natural mutation of Washington Navel orange. It matures quickly, and it is rounded shape and elongated, with a smooth skin of soft and pale orange colour.

Its size is medium and elongated, its outer skin has a little bit of disorder that makes it look collapsed and elongated. It does not contain any seeds, and its pulp is yellow, with a lot of juice.

Washington Navel Oranges

It is a variety originated from a spontaneous mutation of the Washington orange in the area of Lemon Cove, California. It matures in an average time, and it is medium or large size, rounded in shape and has a slightly more prominent navel than other Navel varieties.

The peel of this type of orange is of an intense orange colour, of an intermediate thickness and it is slightly rough. It also has a generous amount of juicy pulp of great sweetness, with a touch of acidity.

Lane Late Oranges

It has a fine, rough, ribbed skin. This variety of oranges has a sweet taste with a noticeable balanced touch of acidity.

They are seedless and have a smaller navel than other navel varieties. They are very juicy and have a lot of pulp.

Other types of Navel oranges

 – Navel Powell Orange. This is another variety of orange of Navel origin, with late maturation, rounded and/or ovoid in shape, with a navel that is very little visible to the outside. It is highly juicy and very sweet, with intense orange colour pulp and thick skin.

– Navel Foyos Orange. This variety of the Navel orange type is medium or large in size, with rounded or oval shapes on some occasions. Its peel is rough and of an intense orange colour, with no seeds. It has a generous amount of juice and a lot of pulp.

Varieties of White Oranges

This type has varieties of oranges that have no navel and little skin; their acidity level is notably lower than that of other groups.

There is no bitterness in their juice, which is abundant because it has quite fleshy segments full of water and with great sweetness.

Salustianas Oranges

This type has its origin in a mutation of the very orange that has taken place in the province of Valencia for climatic and soil reasons.

It has a rounded shape with occasional flattening. Both its peel and skin are thin, they seedless and their pulp is very juicy. Its acidity is minimal and its sweetness is quite remarkable.

Barberinas Oranges 

The Barberina orange is a variety of white orange, native to Valencia, which has no navel, is rounded shape, with occasional elongations, and of large size.

They have no seeds, their flavour is balanced, as their natural sugars and acidity complement each other perfectly. It is also a fruit that provides a lot of juice.

Valencia Late Oranges

This variety of white orange is large, with a very rough orange colour peel, of rounded  shape, and has got seeds, although very few.

Its pulp is quite generous in the amount of juice, and its taste is sweet, but it lets you perceive the acidity.

Other types of White Oranges

– Valencia Midknight Seedless. It is of unknown origin, their peel is thin and smooth; it is  oval to spherical in shape, and of large and/or medium size. The pulp is of orange colour, with a high content of juice, flavour of which is slightly acid. They are seedless oranges.

 – Valencia Delta Seedless. This navelless fruit is medium-sized and totally rounded, with very few seeds. Its skin is thin, and its pulp is sweet with a touch of acidity. It also produces juice in large quantity.

Types of Sanguine Oranges

Este tipo de naranjas se distinguen por su pulpa de color rojo, su sabor es ligeramente ácido, pero intensamente dulce; lo que la hace catalogar como agridulce. 

Su cáscara es un poco más dura que la naranja común, y son de tamaño pequeño y con pocas semillas, son tiernas y contienen mucho jugo.

Types of Sanguine Oranges

This type of orange is distinguished by its red pulp, its taste is slightly acidic but intensely sweet, which makes it is classified as bittersweet.

Their peel is a little harder than that of the common orange, and they are small in size with few seeds. They are tender and contain a lot of juice.

Types of Sanguine Oranges

– Double fine oranges. They are medium-sized, with few or no seeds, and are ellipsoidal in shape. Their external part is yellow-orange, and their peel is very thin, soft and shiny.

– Maltaise Orange. Its exterior is reddish-orange, and the pulp is little coloured but it provides a lot of juice. It has a sweet taste with a little sour touch, and does not contain any seeds.

  – Moro Orange. The colour of the pulp ranges from yellow to bordeaux colour, it may or may not have seeds and are easily peeled.

– Sanguinello Orange. It has less colour than the rest of the variety, but its juice is sweet and has a touch of acidity.

 – Sanguinelli Orange. They have a bright and pigmented peel, the pulp has red streaks with a high content of reddish juice which is very sweet and has little acidity.