The citrus season brings a necessary and amazing wallop of pizazz to these bleak winter days. It’s like a burst of fresh air, with a hint of zest. I love going into my local New Seasons and seeing the absolute abundance of all these different types of citrus, a true feast for the eyes!

I go in an out of liking citrus, so I decided to figure out why. I believe it comes down to the fact that I don’t really crave a juicy orange unless it’s cold outside. Go figure! Eating a bad orange for me is like eating a bad tomato or peach–the memory is hard to erase. And I’ve found that a lot of Valencia oranges and Naval oranges, like the ones you might find at Safeway, to be absolutely tasteless and super fibery–not in a good way either. It wasn’t until I decided to try different types of citrus and while they were in season that I found I really love the tangy, sweet juice and delicate pieces that come from this amazing fruit category.

So I did some sleuthing and bought a variety of citrus fruits to share with you and to try myself:).

The Cocktail Citrus
This may look like an ordinary grapefruit, but don’t be fooled! This has the flavors of grapefruit but is sweeter, more tender, and very juicy. It’s like what the Meyer Lemon is to the Lemon, you can actually peel it, eat it, and it won’t bite your head off with an over zealous lemony zest! The cocktail citrus is Porsche of grapefruits.

The Tangelo
A cross between the tangerine and a grapefruit, these little guys are juicy to the point of becoming fleshless. They will literally burst in your mouth and would make a great fresh squeezed juice in the morning to welcome you into your day. Plus, they are easy to peel and distinguishable in their smaller size and little nob that grows at the top.

The Tangerine
These are sweet little fruits, both adorable in size and in taste. They really are sweet–sweeter than your average orange which provides a little more flavor. They tend to be smaller, but can grow quite sizable in some places around the world.

The Blood Orange
These oranges have a beautiful deep ruby red color juice. Their skins tend to have a blush of the same ruby across the top in certain spots or just all over. I’ve had some blood oranges that taste really sweet, others super sour. Like the orange, it can range in flavors based on when it was picked, where it was grown, and how long it’s been around. These are a wonderful treat if you are literally “looking” for something different–because they are beautiful!

The Mandarin Orange
This orange is tiny and while is sweet and juicy, also has a distinct flavor. It’s a deeper note, something a little more complex than just your average tang of sour or zing of sweet, it’s what differentiates it from the other citrus. They are easy to peel and would go great if you squeezed one or two into your normal juice in the morning.

Happy citrus trying!