The blood orange is a specific variety of orange (Citrus sinensis) and the distinctive dark flesh color is due to the presence of anthocyanins, a family of antioxidant pigments common to many flowers and fruit, but uncommon in citrus fruits. Blood oranges are indeed considered to be among the most healthy oranges in the world not only due to the high presence of anthocyanin but also due to the combination of Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Folic Acid, Calcium and Beta-Carotene not found in normal oranges. The content of Vitamin C, in particular, is roughly 40% higher than any other citrus fruit.
Blood oranges benefit from the particular surrounding area that the nature has created close to Etna volcano, Sicily (Catania province).
The presence of the Etna volcano in that area allows reasonably warm temperatures during the day and acts as a stronger cooling agent in the night. This is an essential combination that creates higher anthocyanin levels, which give the fruits a deep red natural pigmentation.
The three most common types of blood oranges are the Tarocco, the Moro and the Sanguinello and we show hereafter their peculiarities:
| Fruit |
Peculiarity |
Crop |
% Total blood orange |
 Tarocco |
Skin: Thin, Yellow-orange colour with red shades;
Juice: from pink to red. |
December - April |
70% |
 Moro |
Skin: Medium thickness, deep-orange colour with deep red shades;
Juice: from vivid crimson to nearly black-red. |
December - February |
10% |
 Sanguinello |
Skin: Medium thickness, orange colour with red shades;
Juice: deep red. |
March - May |
20% |
Tarocco
Moro
Sanguinello
Antioxidants protect our body from the effects of free radicals that are unstable molecules that promote the development of many degenerative diseases and pre-mature aging of the skin. Large amounts of free radicals are formed when our bodies are exposed to pollution, cigarette smoke, drugs, heavy exercising, toxic wastes, stress, aging, and UV radiation.
Several scientific studies show that regular consumption of blood orange juice (one glass a day) allows tanking up our body of antioxidants and many other benefits:
- Protect our body from the effect of free radicals
- Help immune system fight infections
- Help fighting cold and influenza
- Aid digestion
- Help the body stay and look young
Many reasons to promote the consumption of this “Super Antioxidant” citrus fruit!
In our product section you will discover all our products realized with Blood Oranges (NFC, Concentrates, Purees, Essential Oils).