Delicious Citrus Fruits And Their Benefits

Weight loss and glowing skin are some of the many benefits of eating these delectable fruits. 

Citrus fruits are a group of fruits that are rich in vitamin C and other beneficial nutrients. They include fruits like oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits, and tangerines.

Citrus fruits are an excellent source of vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that helps protect the body from damage caused by free radicals. In addition to vitamin C, citrus fruits also contain other important vitamins and minerals, including:

The myriad benefits of citrus fruits and their nutrient-rich profile make them much sought-after food. They are a perfect mix of sour and sweet flavors that create a heavenly tangy, zesty taste. If mangoes are referred to as the “king” of fruits, citrus fruits definitely form the royal court. In this article, we bring you a list of 24 delicious citrus fruits you must try, their health benefits, a few easy recipes to make, and more. Keep scrolling!

There are only three original species of citrus fruits – mandarin orange, pummelo, and citron. All the other citrus fruits we see in stores and at farmers’ markets today are actually products of crossing these original species. Yes, this includes the common sweet oranges, lemons, and limes! Mindblowing, isn’t it?

There are many more amazing things about citrus fruits that you are not yet aware of, and they will completely blow your mind. But before we delve into that, let’s look at all the types of citrus fruits that you can get your hands on.

List Of Citrus Fruits

Here are some popular varieties of citrus fruits (1):

• Sweet oranges: Blood orange, kumquat, navel, cara cara

• Mandarins: Clementine, tangerine, tangelo, calamondin

• Limes: Key lime, Persian, kaffir

• Grapefruit: White, ruby red, oroblanco

• Lemons: Meyer, eureka

• Other kinds: Citron, yuzu, ugli, Rangpur, pomelo, Buddha’s hand, know

1. Orange

The beloved orange that is readily available around the world is actually a hybrid between a pomelo and a mandarin (2). This sweet fruit grows in tropical and subtropical climates and has been around longer than Christianity as it has been mentioned in Chinese literature dating all the way back to 314 BC!

• Botanical Name: Citrus sinensis

• Origin: Southern China, Northeastern India, and Southeast Asia

• Preferred Zones: Zones 9-11

• Size Of Tree: 30-33 feet

• Exposure: Full sun

• Soil: Slightly acidic to neutral soil with good drainage

2. Tangerine

The trusty ol’ tangerine is believed to be a variety of another citrus fruit, the mandarin orange. It is much sweeter than a regular orange and is used in preparing a bunch of drinks, desserts, salads, and other dishes. Tangerine peels are so delicious that they are also eaten coated in chocolate!

• Botanical Name: Citrus tangerine

• Origin: Morocco

• Preferred Zones: Zones 9-10

• Size Of Tree: 8-10 feet

• Exposure: Full sun

• Soil: Slightly acidic to neutral loamy soil with good drainage

3. Key Lime

Who hasn’t experienced the slice of heaven that is key lime pie? This delicious fruit is also known as Mexican lime and West Indian lime (3). Besides the fruit having a sweet flavor, the flowers that bloom with it are also super pretty off-white with a delicate purple tinge at the edges.

• Botanical Name: Citrus aurantiifolia

• Origin: Southeast Asia

• Preferred Zones: Zones 9-10

• Size Of Tree: 16 feet

• Exposure: Full sun, protected from cold winds

• Soil: Well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral broken rocky soil

4. Clementine

I’m sure you must have spent some part of your childhood being taught the ubiquitous song Oh My Darlin’ Clementine. Well, this classic also features one of the most commonly found citrus fruits out there. Clementine is a sweet citrus fruit that is a cross between a mandarin orange and a sweet orange. It has less acid than a sweet orange and is often confused with mandarin orange (4).

• Botanical Name: Citrus clementina

• Origin: Algeria

• Preferred Zones: Zones 9-11

• Size Of Tree: 25 feet

• Exposure: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained soil

Trivia

Clementine is named after the French priest Father Clement Rodier. He accidentally discovered this hybrid fruit in 1902 in Algeria.

5. Blood Orange

Blood orange has quite the fitting moniker considering its flesh is a very distinctive dark red. This is because it contains unique antioxidants called anthocyanins that are not found in any other citrus fruits (5). Another feature that sets it apart from its other citrus counterparts is that it has a distinct raspberry flavor to it in combination with the usual citric flavor.

• Botanical Name: Citrus sinensis

• Origin: China

• Preferred Zones: Zones 9-10

• Size Of Tree: 15 feet

• Exposure: Full sun

• Soil: Slightly acidic, well-drained loamy soil

6. Mandarin Orange

The mandarin orange is a citrus fruit that closely resembles the more common sweet orange. This sweet citrus fruit holds a special place in Chinese medicine and Ayurveda for treating abdominal, digestion, and phlegm-related issues (6). Mandarin oranges are also traditional symbols of abundance and are thus presented and displayed during the Chinese New Year.

• Botanical Name: Citrus reticulata

• Origin: China

• Preferred Zones: Zones 9-10

• Size Of Tree: 8-10 feet

• Exposure: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained loamy soil

7. Lemon

Who doesn’t know the joy of having a glass of cold lemonade on a hot summer day? Owing to its unique sour taste, lemon is a citrus fruit that is used in preparing food and refreshing drinks all over the world. Additionally, its high citric acid content makes it a strong cleaning agent, and its essential oil is used in aromatherapy for relaxation (7).

• Botanical Name: Citrus limon

• Origin: Southeast Asia

• Preferred Zones: Zones 9-10

• Size Of Tree: 10-20 feet

• Exposure: Full sun

• Soil: Acidic, well-drained, loamy soil

8. Grapefruit

 

The grapefruit boasts of a unique flavor profile that ranges from sour to semi-sweet to bitter notes. It’s a cross between two other citrus fruits – sweet orange and pomelo (8).This citrus fruit gets its name from the way it grows in bunches that resemble grapes. The flesh of this beautiful fruit can come in red, white, or pink hues, depending on its cultivars.

• Botanical Name: Citrus paradisi

• Origin: Barbados

• Preferred Zones: Zones 9-11

• Size Of Tree: 16-20 feet

• Exposure: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained soil

9. Meyer Lemon

The Meyer lemon is named after the American agricultural explorer Frank Nicholas Meyer, who first sampled and brought this citrus fruit to the US from China. It’s a cross between a lemon and a mandarin orange (9). Though first used as an ornamental tree in China, this fruit found its way into cooking, thanks to popular chefs like Alice Waters and Martha Stewart.

• Botanical Name: Citrus meyeri

• Origin: China

• Preferred Zones: Zones 9-10

• Size Of Tree: 6-10 feet

• Exposure: Full sun

• Soil: Slightly acidic, well-drained, loamy soil

10. Kaffir Lime

Kaffir lime (also known as makrut lime) is a citrus fruit that features quite prominently in Southeast Asian cuisine (10). In fact, its leaves are used way more than the fruit in preparing Thai, Cambodian, Vietnamese, and Indonesian dishes. Kaffir lime juice is also used as a shampoo in this region and is believed to kill head lice.

• Botanical Name: Citrus hystrix

• Origin: Tropical Asia

• Preferred Zones: Zones 9-11

• Size Of Tree: 6 to 35 feet

• Exposure: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained, loamy soil

11. Tangelo

Tangelo is a citrus fruit that is a cross between a tangerine and a pomelo or grapefruit (11). It is extremely juicy and has a mildly sweet flavor. This sweet flavor makes it possible for tangelos to be used as a substitute for sweet oranges and mandarin oranges in drinks and dishes.

• Botanical Name: Citrus tangelo

• Origin: USA

• Preferred Zones: Zones 9-10

• Size Of Tree: 8-12 feet

• Exposure: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained, slightly acidic soil

12. Kumquat

Kumquat (the name just rolls off your tongue, doesn’t it?) is very similar to a sweet orange but is much smaller in size and more resistant to cold weather (12). This juicy citrus has many more variants like the Morgani (round) kumquat, Nagami (oval) kumquat, Jiangsu kumquat, and the Centennial Variegated kumquat.

• Botanical Name: Citrus japonica

• Origin: South Asia and Asia Pacific region

• Preferred Zones: Zones 9-11

• Size Of Tree: 8 to 15 feet

• Exposure: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained soil

13. Persian Lime

Persian lime is the most widely cultivated lime species and is a hybrid between a key lime and a lemon (13). The unique features that make it great for commercial cultivation are that it is seedless, has a longer shelf life, is bigger than the key lime, and its bushes have no thorns. However, it is less acidic and has a less bitter taste than key lime.

• Botanical Name: Citrus latifolia

• Origin: Persia (now Iran)

• Preferred Zones: Zones 9-10

• Size Of Tree: 15 to 20 feet

• Exposure: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained soil

14. Sweet Lime

Sweet lime is a cultivar of lemon and is immensely popular in South Asia. It has a very mild, sweet flavor and is low in acid content (14). Sweet lime is most commonly consumed in its juice form and is the most common fruit drink found in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

• Botanical Name: Citrus limetta

• Origin: South and Southeast Asia

• Preferred Zones: Zones 9-11

• Size Of Tree: 26 feet

• Exposure: Full sun

• Soil: Slightly acidic, well-drained soil

15. Pomelo

Pomelo (or pummelo/Pamplemousse/jabong/shaddock – this fruit has way too many names!) is one of the three original citrus species from which the rest of the citrus fruits hybridized. The white-fleshed pomelo is sweet while the pink-fleshed one is sour (15). Pomelos are eaten in Asia during the Mooncake festival.

• Botanical Name: Citrus maxima

• Origin: South and Southeast Asia

• Preferred Zones: Zones 9-10

• Size Of Tree: 25 feet

• Exposure: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained, loamy soil

16. Yuzu

Yuzu is a highly aromatic citrus fruit that looks a lot like a small grapefruit. The interesting thing about yuzu is that it is rarely consumed as a fruit (16). Yuzu juice is used in the preparation of ponzu sauce, yuzu vinegar, yuzu tea, and some alcoholic drinks.

• Botanical Name: Citrus junos

• Origin: Central China and Tibet

• Preferred Zones: Zones 9-11

• Size Of Tree: 12 to 18 feet

• Exposure: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained soil

17. Ugli Fruit

This fruit may sound ugli and look ugly, but it sure is one delicious citrus fruit. Ugli fruit is created by crossing a grapefruit, an orange, and a tangerine. This super juicy fruit is sweet like a tangerine, less bitter than a grapefruit, and has a very aromatic rind.

• Botanical Name: Citrus reticulata × Citrus paradisi

• Origin: Jamaica

• Preferred Zones: Zones 9-11

• Size Of Tree: 6 to 8 feet

• Exposure: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained, slightly acidic soil

18. Citron

And we’re back to one of the original citrus fruit species with citron! This dry, pulpy fruit is used to make jams and pickles in South Asia. According to anecdotal evidence, citrons may serve a variety of medicinal purposes, like helping manage nausea, hemorrhoids, and skin diseases and ejecting parasitic worms from the body (17).

• Botanical Name: Citrus medica

• Origin: Southeast Asia

• Preferred Zones: Zones 9-10

• Size Of Tree: 8 to 15 feet

• Exposure: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained, loamy soil

19. Rangpur

A hybrid between mandarin orange and lemon, rangpur is named so after Rangpur in Bangladesh, where it is found in abundance. Due to their high acid content, rangpurs are used as a substitute for lime while cooking.

• Botanical Name: Citrus limonia

• Origin: Southeast Asia

• Preferred Zones: Zones 9-11

• Size Of Tree: 12 to 18 feet

• Exposure: Full sun

• Soil: Slightly acidic, well-drained, loamy soil

20. Finger Lime

The finger lime, as the name suggests, looks like an elongated lime. Its juicy vesicles are used as a garnish in various dishes and are referred to as ‘lime caviar.’ Finger lime has a tangy flavor that makes it perfect for making pickles and marmalade. But that’s not all! Its peel is also dried and used as a spice.

• Botanical Name: Citrus australasica

• Origin: Australia

• Preferred Zones: Zones 9-11  

• Size Of Tree: 20 feet

• Exposure: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained soil

 21. Bitter Orange

As you may be able to tell by the name, bitter orange is a very bitter-flavored variety of citrus fruit. It’s a cross between a pomelo and a mandarin orange (18). The world-renowned British marmalade is made using bitter orange. It is widely used in preparing Turkish cuisine and is also known to act as a dietary supplement as it suppresses your appetite (19).

• Botanical Name: Citrus aurantium

• Origin: Southeast Asia

• Preferred Zones: Zones 9-10

• Size Of Tree: 30 feet

• Exposure: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained, slightly acidic, loamy soil

22. Buddha’s Hand

When it comes to oddly shaped fruits, Buddha’s hand sure does top the list. This unique fruit is divided into finger-like segments (20). Due to its lack of pulp or juice, only its zest is used in preparing desserts, dishes, and alcoholic drinks.

• Botanical Name: Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis

• Origin: Northeastern India and China

• Preferred Zones: Zones 9-11

• Size Of Tree: 10 to 17 feet

• Exposure: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained soil

Trivia

Buddha’s hand is popularly used in Buddhist temples across Southeast Asia. In China and Japan, it symbolizes good luck and fortune.

23. Calamondin

A cross between a mandarin orange and a kumquat, calamondin is a small citrus fruit that is rarely consumed by itself owing to its sour taste (21). Its juice is used as a seasoning and condiment in Asian cuisines, and the fruit itself can be used to make marmalade.

• Botanical Name: Citrofortunella microcarpa

• Origin: South Asia

• Preferred Zones: Zones 9-10

• Size Of Tree: 10 to 20 feet

• Exposure: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained, slightly acidic soil

24. ORANGE

Kinnow is a delicious citrus fruit that is a cross between the citrus cultivars of ‘King’ and ‘Willow Leaf.’ Due to its high seed content acting as a hindrance during consumption, it is believed that a low-seed variety of kinnow was developed in 2015 by Pakistani agriculturalist Niaz Ahmad Chaudhry.

• Botanical Name: Citrus nobilis x Citrus deliciosa

• Origin: Pakistan and India

• Preferred Zones: Zones 9-11

• Size Of Tree: 8 to 12 feet

• Exposure: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained soil

 Now that’s what I call a long list of fruits! But here’s the best part – the wide variety of citrus fruits that you can get your hands on also means that you get an equally wide variety of health benefits. Don’t believe me? Then just keep on reading…