Types of oranges. Tarocco, navel and others
There are really many different Types of oranges spread in the orange groves, greenhouses and citrus orchards of Italy. Tarocco and navel oranges are without doubt the two most widely cultivated types in the Bel Paese and some Sicilian and Campanian varieties have been awarded IGP recognitions.
They are generally divided into two main categories based on internal color and pulp: reddish (or pigmented) and blond. Among the first, more suitable for juice, there are the red Sicilies, mora, tarocco and sanguinello. In the second group, the best to eat, are included: navel oranges, naveline and oval. Specific types of oranges and denominations correspond to peculiar characteristics (peel thickness, juice quantity, pigmentation, greater or lesser degree of sweetness).
Italians love this citrus fruit and use it for its properties (rich in vitamin C and ascorbic acid) in many types of preparations and recipes. Some consume it at every start of a meal, for its efficiency in reducing fat absorption. Besides jams and sweets, chefs have over time developed multiple types of traditional dishes such as duck à l'orange, salads and casseroles.
