




Moro Blood Oranges
Inventory, 15 lbs : 29.09
This item was last sold on : 09/21/23
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.
Inn at Rancho Santa Fe | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-381-8289 |
Dolce Pane & Vino | Del Mar CA | 858-832-1518 |
Little Frenchie (Bar) | Coronado CA | 619-522-6890 |
Juan Tequila | San Diego CA | 520-395-7565 |
Belmont Park Draft | San Diego CA | 858-228-9283 |
Aztec Shop Catering | San Diego CA | 619 594-3576 |
Top of the Market | San Diego CA | 619-234-4867 |
You & Yours Distilling Co. | San Diego CA | 214-693-6619 |
US Grant Hotel Grill | San Diego CA | 619-232-3121 |
Cutwater Spirits (Bar) | San Diego CA | 619-672-3848 |
Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District | El Cajon CA | 619-644-7585 |
Zinque | San Diego CA | 559-281-2485 |
Webbcreationfood LLC | San Diego CA | 619-829-9194 |
Venissimo Cheese North Park | San Diego CA | 619-376-1834 |
The Holding Company | San Diego CA | 619-341-5898 |
Parkhouse Eatery | San Diego CA | 619 295 7275 |
The Flavor Chef (Catering) | Vista CA | 619-295-3172 |
Cody's La Jolla | La Jolla CA | 858-459-0040 |
Black Radish | San Diego CA | 619-775-7412 |
El Agave Restaurant & Tequileria | San Diego CA | 619-220-0692 |
Herb & Wood | San Diego CA | 520-205-1288 |
Green Acres Campus | San Diego CA | 858-450-9907 |
Sushi Exchange | San Diego CA | 619-961-7218 |
Convention Center East | San Diego CA | 619-525-5832 |
Wonderland Ocean Pub | San Diego CA | 619-255-3358 |
Bar Same Same | Carlsbad CA | 760-470-9143 |
La Dona (Bar) | San Diego CA | 858-352-8134 |
Bottega Italiana-UTC | San Diego CA | 858-404-0799 |
Crudo Cevicheria & Oyster Bar | San Diego CA | 619-313-9127 |
Coast Catering | Escondido CA | 619-295-3173 |
Stone Brewing-Liberty Station | San Diego CA | 619-269-2100 |
Venissimo Cheese Hillcrest | San Diego CA | 619-491-0708 |
Shake and Muddle | Chula Vista CA | 619-816-5429 |
Hotel Del Coronado Bakery | Coronado CA | 619-435-6611 |
Panama 66 | San Diego CA | 619-206-6352 |
The Wild Thyme Company | San Diego CA | 858-527-0226 |
Carte Hotel | San Diego CA | 619-365-1858 |
264 Fresco (Bar) | Carlsbad CA | 760-720-3737 |
Half Door Brewing | San Diego CA | 619-655-7459 |
Harvest Kitchen | Vista CA | 619-709-0938 |
Cocina de Barrio Point Loma | San Diego CA | 858-349-2313 |
Kitchens for Good (SD) | San Diego CA | 619-450-4040 |
UCSD Food & Nutrition Department La Jolla | San Diego CA | 858-761-1269 |
Vista Valley | Vista CA | 760-758-2800 |
Shelter / Saloon | Encinitas CA | 858-382-4047 |
Bellamy's Restaurant | Escondido CA | 760-747-5000 |
Sbicca | Del Mar CA | 858-481-1001 |
Sugar and Scribe | La Jolla CA | 858-274-1733 |
Saiko Sushi-Coronado | Coronado CA | 619-435-0868 |
Lost Cause Meadery | SAN DIEGO CA | 858-245-1911 |
Harley Gray Kitchen and Bar | San Diego CA | 619-840-7000 |
Bayhill Tavern | San Diego CA | 858-288-6923 |
US Grant Hotel Main | San Diego CA | 619-232-3121 |
Cove House | La Jolla CA | 858-999-0034 |
J & Tonys | San Diego CA | 855-634-7664 |
C 2 C | San Diego CA | 619-972-9345 |
Boujiemana | San Diego CA | 925-980-9316 |
Monarch (Bar) | Del Mar CA | 619-308-6500 |
Saiko Sushi-North Park | San Diego CA | 619-886-6656 |
Izakaya Maize/Rabih Sus | La Mesa CA | 619-395-6383 |
Great Maple Hillcrest | San Diego CA | 619-255-2282 |
Storyhouse Spirits Bar | San Diego CA | 801-949-5955 |
Mille Fleurs | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-756-3085 |
The Shores | La Jolla CA | 858-459-8271 |
Park Hyatt Aviara (Ember & Rye) | Carlsbad CA | 760-448-1234 |
Moniker Coffee Company (Bar) | San Diego CA | 916-945-6721 |
Hotel Palomar- Salt Box Bar | San Diego CA | 619-515-4062 |
Madison | San Diego CA | 619-822-3465 |
Polite Provisions | San Diego CA | 619-677-3784 |
Craft and Commerce (Sekscobra Inc.) | San Diego CA | 619-962-5935 |
Kairoa Brewing Company | San Diego CA | 858-735-0051 |
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Moro Blood Oranges. One

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![]() About 131 days ago, 5/14/23 Sharer's comments : Atkins Nursery ![]() About 160 days ago, 4/15/23 Sharer's comments : Heritage Family Farm ![]() About 174 days ago, 4/01/23 Sharer's comments : At Hamlow Ranches Farmers ![]() About 188 days ago, 3/18/23 Sharer's comments : At Atkins Nursery ![]() ![]()
Bernard Ranches
Near Santa Monica, California, United StatesAbout 219 days ago, 2/15/23 Sharer's comments : Moro Blood Oranges from Bernard Ranches ![]() ![]()
Specialty Produce
Near San Diego, California, United States1929 Hancock St Suite 150 San Diego CA 92110 619-295-3172 https://specialtyproduce.com About 222 days ago, 2/12/23 Sharer's comments : Moro Blood Oranges from Friends Ranches ![]() About 223 days ago, 2/11/23 Sharer's comments : At Rex Ranch ![]() About 250 days ago, 1/15/23 Sharer's comments : at R&L Farms ![]() ![]()
Specialty Produce
Near San Diego, California, United States1929 Hancock St Suite 150 San Diego CA 92110 619-295-3172 https://specialtyproduce.com About 270 days ago, 12/26/22 Sharer's comments : Moro Blood Oranges from Bernard Ranches ![]() ![]()
Specialty Produce
Near San Diego, California, United States1929 Hancock St Suite 150 San Diego CA 92110 619-295-3172 https://specialtyproduce.com About 285 days ago, 12/11/22 Sharer's comments : Moro Blood Oranges from Country Rhodes Farms ![]() About 346 days ago, 10/11/22 ![]() ![]() About 495 days ago, 5/15/22 Sharer's comments : Moro Blood Oranges from Dickinson Family Farms ![]() ![]()
Farmers Market
Near San Diego, California, United States600 W Date St, San Diego, CA 92101, United States About 496 days ago, 5/14/22 Sharer's comments : Blood oranges of California ![]() ![]()
Smit Farms
Near Fairbanks Ranch, California, United StatesLinden, CA About 509 days ago, 5/01/22 ![]() ![]()
Valley Center Growers Inc.
Near Poway, California, United StatesEscondido, CA About 524 days ago, 4/16/22 ![]() ![]() About 544 days ago, 3/27/22 Sharer's comments : Moro Blood Oranges from Dickinson Family Farms ![]() ![]()
Central Market
Near Austin, Texas, United StatesAustin, Texas About 557 days ago, 3/14/22 ![]() ![]()
Farmer Steve
Near Poway, California, United StatesSan Diego County, CA About 559 days ago, 3/12/22 ![]() ![]()
Mud Creek Farms
Near Santa Monica, California, United StatesSanta Paula, CA 805-525-0758 About 583 days ago, 2/16/22 ![]() ![]()
R&L Farms
Near Encinitas, California, United StatesRamona, CA About 586 days ago, 2/13/22 ![]() About 593 days ago, 2/06/22 Sharer's comments : Moro Blood Oranges from Dickinson Family Farms |