Moro Blood Oranges
Inventory, 15 lbs : 12.00
This item was last sold on : 04/28/24
Description/Taste
Moro blood oranges are medium to large in size, averaging 5-8 centimeters in diameter, and are obovoid to globular in shape. The rind is orange, kissed with red blush, and has a leathery texture, pebbled with prominent oil glands. Underneath the surface of the rind, there is a medium-thick pith that is white, spongy, and tightly adhered to the flesh. The flesh ranges in color from orange with red blush, to maroon, crimson, to a saturated, almost black hue, depending on the climate that it is grown in. The flesh is also soft, juicy, and nearly seedless, divided into 10-11 segments by thin membranes. Moro blood oranges have a slightly sweet, floral fragrance and a sweet-tart taste with notes of cherries and raspberries. The oranges with the deepest pigmentation will exhibit more intense sweet berry notes characteristic to blood oranges.
Seasons/Availability
Moro blood oranges are available in the winter through late spring.
Current Facts
Moro blood oranges, botanically classified as Citrus sinensis, are an early season Italian variety that grows on a highly ornamental, evergreen tree that belongs to the Rutaceae or citrus family. Their color is due to a pigment called anthocyanin, not usually present in citrus but common in other red fruits and flowers. Fluctuations in temperature greatly affect the degree to which blood oranges develop their characteristic blush. Though the Moro can vary greatly in this respect, no other blood orange variety is known to exhibit such deeply red colored fruits. Moro blood oranges are the most common variety in the United States and are favored by chefs for their dark hues and sweet-tart flavor, used to accent savory dishes, cooked into marmalades, and blended into salad dressings.
Nutritional Value
Moro blood oranges are a good source of vitamin C, potassium, folate, thiamine, dietary fiber and most notably antioxidants supplied by its anthocyanin content.
Applications
Moro blood oranges are both intensely flavored and colored, adding a unique citrus flavor as well as visual appeal to a dish. They are often used raw and can be sliced and mixed into parfaits, desserts, salads, salsa, and garnished over seafood and poultry. Moro blood oranges also stand up well in cooked applications and may be paired with sweet or savory flavors. The classic Maltaise sauce, a traditional hollandaise spiked with the zest and juice of blood orange, pairs well with seafood and vegetables such as asparagus and broccoli. Moro blood orange juice can also be served as a stand-alone juice, used in cocktails with prosecco, cooked into syrups, sorbets, marmalades, compotes, sauces, and vinaigrettes, or used to flavor cheesecake, pound cake, or muffins. Moro blood oranges pair well with meats such as duck, poultry, pork, and seafood such as Mahi Mahi, other citrus, mint, tarragon, soft cheeses, shallots, arugula, roasted beets, fennel, shallot, Dijon mustard, Greek yogurt, honey, rolled oats, pistachios, sweetened coconut, mango, cinnamon, avocado, ginger, lime, mint, and cilantro. They will keep up to one week when stored at room temperature and up to two weeks when stored in the refrigerator.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
The word Moro may be traced to the Moorish influence in the Mediterranean region during the 8th century. Originally a term used to describe the indigenous people of Africa, Moro became a common word used to describe something with dark pigmentation. The red-tinged citrus quickly adopted this same nomenclature.
Geography/History
It is believed the first natural mutation of the Moro blood orange occurred from a sanguinello moscato variety in the mid 20th century in Sicily. In its native Mediterranean growing region, the Moro makes up one-third of the local citrus market. Outside of Italy, California is a large producer of the variety along with Texas, Florida, and Arizona, and the variety was first introduced to the United States in 1908 by Frank Meyer of the United States Department of Agriculture.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
Nadolife Production | San Diego CA | 619-239-1224 |
The Pearl Hotel Bar | San Diego CA | 877-732-7573 |
One Door North | San Diego CA | 858-232-4220 |
Berry Good Food Foundation | La Jolla CA | 619-666-1633 |
Bleu Boheme | San Diego CA | 619-255-4167 |
Vista Valley | Vista CA | 760-758-2800 |
The Harvest Honey | San Marcos CA | 616-914-0124 |
Prey Brewing Company | Vista CA | 7608224226 |
Alila Marea Beach Resort | Encinitas CA | 805-539-9719 |
Avant | San Diego CA | 858-675-8505 |
Shoreside Support Boat | San Diego CA | 704-277-7929 |
Inn at Rancho Santa Fe | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-381-8289 |
LPM Master Tenant, LLC- Bottlecraft | San Diego CA | 619-522-6890 |
Sugar Bear Enterprises | San Diego CA | 925-383-3623 |
Kitchens for Good (SD) | San Diego CA | 619-450-4040 |
Parisien Gourmandises | La Jolla CA | 858-352-6552 |
Mister A's Bar | San Diego CA | 619-239-1377 |
Kitchens For Good | San Diego CA | 619-450-4040 |
Shelter / Saloon | Encinitas CA | 858-382-4047 |
Cody's La Jolla | La Jolla CA | 858-459-0040 |
Barbusa | San Diego CA | 619-297-6333 |
US Grant Hotel Grill | San Diego CA | 619-232-3121 |
Venissimo Cheese Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-847-9616 |
Secret Sister (Bar) | San Diego CA | 619-281-0718 |
Coast Catering | Escondido CA | 619-295-3173 |
Wonderland Ocean Pub | San Diego CA | 619-255-3358 |
Scrimshaw Coffee | San Diego CA | 951-663-2207 |
Maderas Golf Club | Poway CA | 858-451-8100 |
Mister A's Pastry | San Diego CA | 619-239-1377 |
Park Commons - ARE | San Diego CA | 619-295-3172 |
Wormwood | San Diego CA | 619-573-0289 |
Pali Wine Company | San Diego CA | 310-893-0038 |
Bayhill Tavern | San Diego CA | 858-288-6923 |
Valley View Casino & Hotel | Valley Center CA | 760-291-5500 |
Madison | San Diego CA | 619-822-3465 |
Fishery | San Diego CA | 858-272-9985 |
Dolce Pane & Vino | Del Mar CA | 858-832-1518 |
Barleymash | San Diego CA | 619-276-6700 x304 |
Bar Same Same (Bar) | Carlsbad CA | 760-470-9143 |
Coasterra | San Diego CA | 619-814-1300 |
Patisserie Melanie | San Diego CA | 619-677-2132 |
Valley View Casino & Hotel (Black&Blue) | Valley Center CA | 760-291-5500 |
The Islander (Bar) | Coronado CA | 619-522-6890 |
Coco Maya by Miss Bs | San Diego CA | 858-245-3780 |
US Grant Hotel Main | San Diego CA | 619-232-3121 |
Sheraton Carlsbad (20/20) | Carlsbad CA | 760-827-2400 |
Campfire | Carlsbad CA | 760-637-5121 |
Madam Bonnies - Bar | San Diego CA | 619-432-1383 |
Crown Point Catering | San Diego CA | 619-223-1211 |
Catania La Jolla | La Jolla CA | 858-551-5105 |
Bar Ella | San Diego CA | 858-808-2286 |
Black Radish | San Diego CA | 619-775-7412 |
Dija Mara 2021 | Oceanside CA | 760-231-5376 |
The Wild Thyme Company | San Diego CA | 858-527-0226 |
Half Door Brewing | San Diego CA | 619-655-7459 |
OB Noodle House & Sake Bar | San Diego CA | 619-450-6868 |
Venissimo Cheese North Park | San Diego CA | 619-376-1834 |
Saiko Sushi-North Park | San Diego CA | 619-886-6656 |
Top of the Market | San Diego CA | 619-234-4867 |
Monarch School (Nutrition Lab) | San Diego CA | 619-804-1766 |
Pacific Terrace Hotel | San Diego CA | 858-581-3500 |
La Dona (Bar) | San Diego CA | 858-352-8134 |
Hash House A Go Go | San Diego CA | 951-764-0605 |
Monarch School | San Diego CA | 619-804-1766 |
The Tavern Bar | Coronado CA | 602-628-5890 |
Nolita Hall - Bar | San Diego CA | 619-618-8820 |
Joya Kitchen | San Diego CA | 619-255-5979 |
Kingfisher | San Diego CA | 619-861-8074 |
El Agave Restaurant & Tequileria | San Diego CA | 619-220-0692 |
Il Sogno Italiano | San Diego CA | 619-380-2652 |
Tahona (Kitchen) | San Diego CA | 619-573-0289 |
Moniker Coffee Company (Bar) | San Diego CA | 916-945-6721 |
The Lion Share Bar | San Diego CA | 619-564-6924 |
Leichtag Foundation | Encinitas CA | 760-230-6772 |
Saiko Sushi-Coronado | Coronado CA | 619-435-0868 |
Stake Chophouse & Bar | Coronado CA | 619-522-0077 |
Cloak and Petal Bar | San Diego CA | 619-501-5505 |
Mak Mak Organics | Oceanside CA | 858-740-4217 |
Jake's Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-755-2002 |
Monarch (Bar) | Del Mar CA | 619-308-6500 |
Lodge at Torrey Pines Main | San Diego CA | 858-453-4420 |
Hotel Indigo | San Diego CA | 619-295-3172 |
Black Raill Kitchen + Bar | Carlsbad CA | 619-454-9182 |
Panama 66 | San Diego CA | 619-206-6352 |
Boujiemana | San Diego CA | 415-710-0510 |
Catamaran | San Diego CA | 858-488-1081 |
My Chef | San Diego CA | 916-217-0049 |
Pamplemousse Grill | Solana Beach CA | 858-792-9090 |
Fresh Sushi Catering | Carlsbad CA | 858-344-7098 |
Little Frenchie (Bar) | Coronado CA | 619-522-6890 |
Artifact at Mingei | San Diego CA | 619-846-2164 |
Mister A's | San Diego CA | 619-239-1377 |
The Flavor Chef (Catering) | Vista CA | 619-295-3172 |
Venissimo Cheese Hillcrest | San Diego CA | 619-491-0708 |
Seneca | San Diego CA | 619-588-2411 |
The Holding Company | San Diego CA | 619-341-5898 |
Trust Restaurant | San Diego CA | 609-780-7572 |
Javier Plascencia | Bonita CA | 619-295-3172 |
Poseidon on the Beach | Del Mar CA | 858-755-9345 |
Gelato 101 | Encinitas CA | 760-487-5272 |
KI's | Encinitas CA | 760-586-8289 |
Bellamy's Restaurant | Escondido CA | 760-747-5000 |
Snake Oil Cocktail Company LLC | San Diego CA | 619-754-4041 |
Wine Vault & Bistro | San Diego CA | 619-295-3939 |
Georges at the Cove | San Diego CA | 858-454-4244 |
Cliffhanger Cafe Menu | San Diego CA | 858-452-9858 |
Storyhouse Spirits Bar | San Diego CA | 801-949-5955 |
Botanica | San Diego CA | 619-310-6320 |
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Moro Blood Oranges. One is easiest, three is harder.