Sweeten Up Your Winter Mood

A distinct and delightful aspect of Winter is the awaited return of citrus. At Eastside, seasonality reigns supreme (duh!) and our selection of citrus this time of year provides a beacon of joy amidst the cold weather and gray skies. With so many options to pick from, we asked our Produce Manager, Jeff, to pick a couple of favorites and give us the lowdown on them.

Cara Cara Navel Oranges 
Cara Cara Navels were discovered in 1976 at Hacienda Cara Cara in Venezuela. They could be the result of natural mutation, but it's also possible Cara Cara's were deliberately cross-bread by a mystery farmer. Cara Caras are believed to be a cross between Washington Navels and Brazilian Bahia. The inside of a Cara Cara is a distinct red-pink, much like a grapefruit. They contain more vitamin C and Vitamin A than regular Navel Oranges. More complex in flavor than Navel oranges, Cara Caras are sweet, tangy and tart, with hints of cranberry, blackberry, raspberry and rose. They are also extremely juicy. Eastside sources our Cara Caras from California. 

Satsuma Mandarins 
Named for the Satsuma province in Japan, Satsuma Mandarins are a Hybrid between mandarin and pomelo. Honey-sweet flavor with a hint of acidity. Usually seedless with loose, very easy to peel skin. Extremely juicy. Satsumas are cold hardy, and the fruit becomes sweeter as the weather gets colder. Jesuits brought Satsumas to the United Sates in the 18th century and planted them in what is now New Orleans (at that time it was New Spain). California grows the bulk of our Satsumas. Satsumas have a very delicate outer skin and bruise easily, so when you purchase canned mandarins, they are usually Satsumas.