Moro Blood Oranges

Estimated Inventory, 15 lbs : 10.69
This item was last sold on : 11/22/24

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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.

Cardellino (Bar)	San Diego CA	619-722-3398
Catania La Jolla	La Jolla CA	858-551-5105
Monarch (Bar)	Del Mar CA	619-308-6500
C 2 C	San Diego CA	619-972-9345
Little Frenchie (Bar)	Coronado CA	619-522-6890
Manna	Encinitas CA	510-366-3057
Lucky Bolt	San Diego CA	662-832-3638
Shelter / Saloon	Encinitas CA	858-382-4047
Dija Mara	Oceanside CA	760-231-5376
Madi	San Diego CA	320-491-1217
Palmys	San Diego CA	858-886-7111
The Shores	La Jolla CA	858-459-8271
Giuseppe Restaurants & Fine Catering	San Diego CA	619-436-7006
Bleu Boheme	San Diego CA	619-255-4167
Cloak and Petal Bar	San Diego CA	619-501-5505
Wildland	Carlsbad CA	619-385-0914
Kairoa Brewing Company	San Diego CA	858-735-0051
Dolce Pane & Vino	Del Mar CA	858-832-1518
Tribute Pizza	San Diego CA	858-220-0030
Cal A Vie	Vista CA	760-945-2055

the other 83...

Seneca Bar	San Diego CA	619-588-2411
Baja Cavi	Lomas de Valle Verde 22810	619-295-3172
Bernardo Heights Country Club	San Diego CA	858-487-4022
Farmer and The Seahorse	San Diego CA	619-302-3682
Alchemy Roasters	San Diego CA	916-718-2606
Top of the Market	San Diego CA	619-234-4867
Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe	Rancho Santa Fe CA	858-759-6063
US Grant Hotel Grill	San Diego CA	619-232-3121
Graze	San Diego CA	619-839-9852
Buckboard Catering & Events	El Cajon CA	619-334-4400
Half Door Brewing	San Diego CA	619-655-7459
La Dona (Bar)	San Diego CA	858-352-8134
Fresh Sushi Catering	Carlsbad CA	858-344-7098
Saiko Sushi-Coronado	Coronado CA	619-435-0868
A & M catering	San Diego CA	206-802-8320
Kitchens For Good	San Diego CA	619-450-4040
Barra Oliba	San Diego CA	610-310-5110
Caffe Calabria Coffee Roasting Company	San Diego CA	619-683-7787
Venissimo Cheese Hillcrest	San Diego CA	619-491-0708
Tahona (Bar)	San Diego CA	619-573-0289
Jeune Et Jolie	Carlsbad CA	858-231-0862
Wormwood	San Diego CA	619-573-0289
The Corner Drafthouse (Bar)	San Diego CA	619-255-2631
Kettner Exchange	San Diego CA	909-915-9877
Great Maple Hillcrest	San Diego CA	619-255-2282
Harvest Kitchen	Vista CA	619-709-0938
Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines	La Jolla CA	858-450-4581
Moniker Coffee Company (Bar)	San Diego CA	916-945-6721
Mission Bay Beach Club	San Diego CA	858-201-7551
Marriott Marina Kitchen	San Diego CA	619-234-1500
Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego	San Diego CA	619-232-1234
Shoreside Support Boat	San Diego CA	704-277-7929
Camino Riviera Bar	San Diego CA	619-685-3881
Bar Same Same (Bar)	Carlsbad CA	760-470-9143
Lafayette Hotel - Quixote	San Diego CA	619-296-2101
Sugar Bear Enterprises	San Diego CA	925-383-3623
Rancho Bernardo Inn (Avant)	San Diego CA	858-675-8505
Solare Ristorante Lounge	San Diego CA	619-270-9670
Panama 66 (Bar)	San Diego CA	619-702-6373
Cody's La Jolla	La Jolla CA	858-459-0040
El Agave Restaurant & Tequileria	San Diego CA	619-220-0692
Park Commons - ARE	San Diego CA	619-295-3172
The Handmade Chef Meal Prep Co.	San Diego CA	619-368-3705
Graze Bar	San Diego CA	619-839-9852
Revolution Roasters	Oceanside CA	760-330-6827
Pacific Yacht Agents	Los Angeles CA	808-214-0970
Sago	Encinitas CA	858-382-4047
The Pearl Hotel Bar	San Diego CA	877-732-7573
Town & Country San Diego	San Diego CA	619-291-7131
The Flower Pot Cafe and Bakery	La Jolla CA	858-454-5453
The Flavor Chef (Catering)	Vista CA	619-295-3172
Juniper & Ivy	San Diego CA	858-481-3666
Campfire	Carlsbad CA	760-637-5121
Seven Seas Roasting Co. SB	Solana Beach CA	619-261-7275
Venissimo Cheese Del Mar	Del Mar CA	858-847-9616
Manchester Grand Hyatt Sallys	San Diego CA	619-232-1234
Stake Chophouse & Bar	Coronado CA	619-522-0077
Gravity Heights Mission Valley - Bar	San Diego CA	619-384-5993
Animae (Bar)	San Diego CA	619-925-7908
Shogun Sportfishing	San Diego CA	619-226-8030
Bahia Resort Hotel	San Diego CA	858-488-0551
Gold Finch	San Diego CA	619-804-2051
Vertex - Merryfield Row	San Diego CA	619-405-8950
La Costa Resort & Spa Main Kitchen	Carlsbad CA	760-930-7063
Wolf In the Woods	San Diego CA	619-851-7275
Sandpiper Wood Fired Grill & Oysters	La Jolla CA	858-228-5655
University Club	San Diego CA	619-234-5200
Bayhill Tavern	San Diego CA	858-288-6923
Bang on 5th	San Diego CA	619-677-5650
Seneca	San Diego CA	619-588-2411
Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center	National City CA	619-434-4281
Continental Catering Inc	La Mesa CA	907-738-9264
Boujiemana	San Diego CA	415-710-0510
Communal Coffee	San Diego CA	619-305-9525
Campo Gourmet	San Diego	619-719-6924
WineSellar & Brasserie	San Diego CA	858-450-9557
Coast Catering	Escondido CA	619-295-3173
Del Road Food Hall Bar	San Diego CA	619-269-7187
Always Hungry Grocery & Goods	Oceanside CA	215-990-3764
Mabel's Gone Fishing Bar	San Diego CA	619-228-9851
Nobu	San Diego CA	619-814-4124
Cliffhanger Cafe Menu	San Diego CA	858-452-9858
Lost Cause Meadery	SAN DIEGO CA	858-245-1911

Recipe Ideas

Recipes that include Moro Blood Oranges. One

is easiest, three is harder.

Saveur		Blood Orange and Onion Salad
Getty Stewart		Orange Celery Salad
Baby Bird's Farm and Cocina		Roasted Beets, Radishes, Squash and Green Beans with Orange-Dill Vinaigratte
Wife Mama Foodie		Blood Orange Spelt Muffins
A Cookie Named Desire		Blood Orange Chocolate Cupcakes
Eat the Love		Blueberry Muffins with Blood Oranges
A Brown Table		Rosemary and Star Anise Infused Blood Orange Ice Cream
Cooking on the Weekends		Stone Fruit Flowers and Winter Citrus Carpaccio
The Cake Blog		Raspberry Blood Orange Cake
Blahnik Baker		Blood Orange Moscow Mule

the other 82...

Sugar and Charm		Lemonade Mimosas with Blood Orange
Garlic & Zest		Sweet Heat Sunshine Salad
Brooklyn Homemaker		Beet and Blood Orange Bundt Cake
Cafe Johnsonia		Blood Orange Asparagus Salad with Ginger Miso Dressing
A Family Feast		Tuscan Kale Salad with Oranges, Currants and Feta
Fooduzzi		Blood Orange Ginger Juice
Nutmeg Nanny		Blood Orange Ginger Margarita
Domestic Gothess		Chocolate, Olive Oil And Rosemary Cake With Candied Blood Oranges
Call Me Cupcake		Blood Orange Upside Down Cake
What's Gaby Cooking		Citrus Avocado Salad
A Brown Table		Polenta Coconut Almond Baked Pudding with Brunt Sugar Blood Orange Sauce
Tarladalal		Pistachio Meringue Cake with Citrus, Candied Kumquats, & Cardamom Caramel Sauce
A Brown Table		Goan Style Meatball Subs with Blood Orange Aioli
Honest Cooking		Brandy Dipped Citrus Salad
Always Order Dessert		Pan-Seared Chilean Sea Bass in a Blood Orange Butter Sauce
Thyme & Love		Vegan Blood Orange Donuts
A Cookie Named Desire		Blood Orange Cream-Filled Doughnuts
A Beautiful Mess		Blood Orange Lemon Fizz
Shockingly Delicious		Edamame Salad with Persimmon, Peppers and Pine Nuts {Vegan, Gluten-Free}
Shockingly Delicious		Dutch Baby Oven Pancake with Blueberries and Blood Oranges
Baking a Moment		Rice Pudding with Blood Oranges in Vanilla Cardamom Syrup
A Beautiful Plate		Small Batch Almond Raspberry Cakes
Snappy Gourmet		Homemade Blood Orange Curd
Sprinkle Bakes		Orange Yogurt Loaf Cake
The View from Great Island		Roasted Chicken with Allspice and Citrus
Sugar & Soul		Spicy Blood Orange Lil' Smokies
A Beautiful Plate		Triple-Citrus Tart with Chocolate Crust and Berries
Fashionable Foods		Sriracha Glazed Salmon with Spiralized Celery Root Salad
Nyssa's Kitchen		Blood Orange and Cardamom Pistachio No Bake Greek Yogurt Cheesecake
Local Haven		Blood Orange Sparkling Vodka
Not Quite Nigella		Upside Down Blood Orange Cake
A Cozy Kitchen		Buckwheat Pancakes (Dairy-Free-,Gluten-Free but not Gross)
Erica's Recipes		Blood Orange and Dark Chocolate Brownies
Fabtastic Life		Glazed Blood Orange Blondies
Fork Knife Swoon		Creamy Coconut and Blood Orange Popsicles
The View from Great Island		Asparagus Roasted with Blood Oranges
A Brown Table		Blood Orange Curd with Honey Bourbon
Tutti Dolci		Blood Orange & Almond Scones
The Little Epicurian		Blood Orange Donuts
Brooklyn Homemaker		Winter Salad with Spiced Pork Chops
Vegan Huggs		Blood Orange Margaritas
Tatyana's Everyday Food		Vanilla Citrus Tart
My Recipes		Citrus Salad with Spiced Vanilla Syrup
A Zesty Bite		Blood Orange Vinaigrette
A Cookie Named Desire		Blood Orange Curd
Good Food		Blood Orange and Champagne Sorbet
A Beautiful Plate		Blood Orange Almond Chocolate Bark
Garlic & Zest		Tropical Blood Orange Smoothie
Wife Mama Foodie		Blood Orange Poppy Seed Doughnuts
Eat the Love		Blood Orange Lemon Vanilla Infused Shaker Pie
Eat The Gains		Blood Orange Chia Pudding
One Vanilla Bean		Blood Orange and Meyer Lemon Macarons
The Worktop		Blood Orange Whipped Butter
Cooking on the Weekends		Honey Jalapeno Citrus Salad
Fox and Briar		Blood Orange Margaritas with Smoky Salt
Good Food		Blood Orange, Fennel and Prawn Salad
A Beautiful Mess		Blood Orange Bloody Mary
Cooking on the Weekends		Blood Orange-Turmeric Upside Down Pound Cake
Good Food		Blood Orange Jelly
How Sweet Eats		Creamy Winter Vanilla Bean Chia Pudding with Blood Orange Syrup
Wry Toast Eats		Hawaiian-Style Fish Tacos with Winter Citrus Pico
Salt and Lavender		Spiralized Raw Beet Salad with Blood Oranges
Clean Eating Non-Hippe		Jeweled Winter Salad with Blood Oranges and Avocado
A Cookie Named Desire		Blood Orange Crème Brûlée
Preppy Kitchen		Blood Orange Margarita
The Beeroness		Drunk French Toast Sticks with Beer Blood Orange Syrup
The Pretty Bee		Blood Orange Banana Smoothie
Dagmar's Kitchen		Almond, Millet and Cheddar Scones with rosemary Citrus Compote
A Cookie Named Desire		Blood Orange Ice Cream with Raspberries
A Calculated Whisk		Blood Orange Mascarpone Panna Cotta
Fooduzzi		Blood Orange Mojitos
Just a Little Bit of Bacon		Easy Puff Pastry Blood Orange Galettes
Giraffes Can Bake		Blood Orange Mini Tarts
Dagmar's Kitchen		Blood Orange, Smoked Salmon and Edamame Salad with Mint Dressing
The Baker Chick		Blood Orange Curd Bars
Sprinkle Bakes		Blood Orange Winter Watercolor Cake
A Cozy Kitchen		Blood Orange Poppy Seed Scones
A Brown Table		Toasted Pistachio Cake with Blood Orange Sauce
Whitney Bond		Blood Orange Baked Salmon & Carrots
Eating Out Loud		Moro Blood Orange 'Lemon' Bars
A Beautiful Mess		Simple & Comforting Vegan Shepherd's Pie
Seasons And Suppers		Dutch Baby With Blood Orange Syrup