a.k.a. The Blood Orange
The favorite fruit of vampires..? Uh…..no.
It’s the time of year for the blood orange. All of a sudden they appear at your local grocery or on menus at your favorite restaurant. But what is this mysterious citrus?
Time for class…
Blood oranges are essentially a simple mutation of a sweet orange. They are smaller than the average orange and the flavor and aroma is generally a bit stronger, usually with a characteristic hint of raspberry. The dark ruby color (thus the name) is generated by the presence of a pigment called anthocyanin, which is not common in citrus.
· Tarocco
· Sanguinello
· Moro
These are the three most common types of blood oranges, though there are several others. The Tarocco and the Moro are native to Italy, while the Sanguinello is from Spain. The Moro is the newest varietal of the three and has the darkest flesh.
Class dismissed..! Time for fun…
More specifically, the Blood Orange Martini. As is the norm with the art of mixology, there are several recipes / interpretations of a cocktail. That certainly holds true for this martini as most recipes have 5 to 6 ingredients and might require a degree in mixology to obtain the desired result. For a starting point, I have found a simple recipe that produces a quick and tasty result.
Blood Orange Martini (2 servings)
· 3 oz citrus vodka (we prefer Grey Goose L’Orange)
· 1.5 oz blood orange juice
· 1 t. simple syrup (agave nectar works great here)
Combine in shaker with ice and give a good shake. Pour into chilled martini glasses and garnish with a thin slice of blood orange.
Enjoy..!
It’s the time of year for the blood orange. All of a sudden they appear at your local grocery or on menus at your favorite restaurant. But what is this mysterious citrus?
Time for class…
Blood oranges are essentially a simple mutation of a sweet orange. They are smaller than the average orange and the flavor and aroma is generally a bit stronger, usually with a characteristic hint of raspberry. The dark ruby color (thus the name) is generated by the presence of a pigment called anthocyanin, which is not common in citrus.
· Tarocco
· Sanguinello
· Moro
These are the three most common types of blood oranges, though there are several others. The Tarocco and the Moro are native to Italy, while the Sanguinello is from Spain. The Moro is the newest varietal of the three and has the darkest flesh.
Class dismissed..! Time for fun…
More specifically, the Blood Orange Martini. As is the norm with the art of mixology, there are several recipes / interpretations of a cocktail. That certainly holds true for this martini as most recipes have 5 to 6 ingredients and might require a degree in mixology to obtain the desired result. For a starting point, I have found a simple recipe that produces a quick and tasty result.
Blood Orange Martini (2 servings)
· 3 oz citrus vodka (we prefer Grey Goose L’Orange)
· 1.5 oz blood orange juice
· 1 t. simple syrup (agave nectar works great here)
Combine in shaker with ice and give a good shake. Pour into chilled martini glasses and garnish with a thin slice of blood orange.
Enjoy..!