The tastiest orange in the world crown goes to a short list of three: Cara Cara, Sumo Citrus, and calamondin. Each one wins for a different reason. Cara Cara brings pink flesh and berry notes. Sumo brings huge size and pure sweetness. Calamondin brings a tart kick like no other.
When I first lined up all three on my kitchen table last winter for a side by side test, the gap stunned me. Sumo blew me away with its honey sweet juice. In my experience, Cara Cara stands out with hints of strawberry. Calamondin made my lips pucker with its sharp punch.
Picking the best tasting orange variety comes down to what you like. Some folks love pure sugar. Others want a hit of acid to wake them up. The best fruit for you may not match the top pick of your friend. Taste is a personal game.
Sugar to acid mix drives the flavor of any citrus fruit. Calamondin sits at 9 Brix with 4.5% to 5.8% citric acid per a 2023 Molecules study. That high acid is why the fruit tastes so sharp. Sweet oranges run closer to 11 Brix with much less acid in them.
The sweetest orange of the bunch is Sumo Citrus from Japan. It can hit 13 Brix or higher in a good crop. The fruit is huge, easy to peel, and packed with juice. The price tag is steep but the taste backs it up well.
You will spot Cara Cara from Venezuela in stores from December to April. Its pink flesh comes from lycopene, the same stuff that makes your tomatoes red. The taste reminds me of orange juice mixed with raspberry jam. You will love it for your morning breakfast.
You can find Italian blood oranges in winter too. The deep red flesh tastes of orange plus a hint of berry and wine. Sicilian Moro is the most prized type with the darkest color and richest flavor. Use the juice for your cocktails or fancy gel desserts.
Now back to calamondin flavor, the dark horse in this race. The Philippines grows most of the world supply. The fruit is tiny but it punches above its weight. The peel is sweet. The juice is sour. Pop one whole and you get both at the same time.
Premium citrus varieties like these all cost more than your basic grocery store navel. But the flavor gap is huge. One bite of a Sumo or a fresh Cara Cara will spoil you for the cheap stuff forever. They are worth the splurge for a special meal.
Shop seasonally to get peak flavor for less money. Cara Cara hits its best from January to April. Sumo runs from late January to April too. Calamondin fruits all year in warm zones. Pick heavy fruits with thin skin for the most juice per piece.
Try a calamondin whole the first time you find them. The mix of sweet peel and tart juice is unlike any other fruit you have tasted. It may not beat Sumo for pure sweetness, but it wins for raw flavor punch in every bite.
Read the full article: Calamondin Orange Complete Guide
