Citrus Menu Planning and Seasonality Guide

What’s Available Now

Oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruit are all available year round. However, winter is an exciting time for citrus as the Sunkist specialty citrus varieties come into the market.

Oranges – Navel oranges are available now through April, taking the place of the spring and summer Valencia oranges.

Navel Oranges feature a slightly thicker skin than Valencias, but are easy to peel and section. They are sweet, juicy and virtually seedless, making them perfect for salads, entrees, and a variety of menu specialties.

Flavor Notes - Navels have a rich, balanced floral aroma. The flavor is refreshingly tart with a pronounced vanilla finish; reminiscent of an orange vanilla Popsicle.

Quick Navel Orange Menu Inspirations:

Orange Ice Cream Topping – Reduce fresh-squeezed orange juice and brown sugar by half, toss in navel orange sections and ladle over vanilla ice cream or raspberry sorbet. Sprinkle with slivered almonds.

Sunkist Specialty Citrus varieties begin to enter the market in November and December. Here are a few of the varieties to look for, plus some menu ideas to inspire your creativity:

Pummelos – Sometimes called the “Chinese Grapefruit.” Pummelos are the largest citrus fruit with a firm flesh and thick skin and are available mid-October into May.

Flavor Notes - Pummelos are aromatic and complex with a zesty hint of jasmine and lime. They are sweeter than grapefruit and their large individual juice sacks have a candied almond aftertaste.

Quick Pummelo Menu Inspirations:

Pummelo Shrimp Salad - Marinate pummelo sections with jumbo boiled shrimp along with fresh-squeezed pummelo juice, chopped shallots and fresh sage leaves. After 1-2 hours, remove pummelo sections and shrimp, arrange on lettuce and serve.

Satsuma Mandarians – This is the earliest mandarin variety, available mid-October through December. Their shape varies from flat to necked. Satsumas peel and section easily, with few, if any seeds.

Flavor Notes - These Mandarins have a honeysuckle and kumquat aroma. They are mildly acidic with a tropical fruit flavor and a warm cinnamon spice finish.

Quick Satsuma Menu Inspirations:

Mandarian Orange Tart – Modify your favorite lemon tart recipe by substituting fresh-squeezed Satsuma Mandarins for the lemon juice and up-sell this orange-hued tart. Garnish with whipped cream and thin pinwheel slices of mandarins.

Fairchild Tangerines – Fairchilds are the earliest tangerine variety, available mid-October through February. They are slightly flat in shape, sometimes packed with stem and leaves attached. Although they have some seeds, this tangerine peels and sections easily.

Flavor Notes - Fairchild tangerines burst with a ripe passion fruit aroma and a complex, currant and pineapple flavor. Their syrupy juice has a honeysuckle aftertaste.

Quick Fairchild Tangerine Menu Inspirations:

Tangerine Cosmo or Martini – Modify the wildly popular Cosmopolitan or one of the flavored Martinis by substituting fresh-squeezed Fairchild tangerine juice and create a new best-seller for your beverage business.