Being one of the significant producers of crops and spices, India is also lauded for its quality fruits. Talking about oranges, Indians are kind of obsessed
with the sugary and juicy orange fruit that gains almost a celebrity-like status during the winters, when preparing for a luxury time right after an afternoon meal is a must.
In India, Nagpur, Darjeeling, and Coorg are known for their pristine affair with oranges that greatly differ in size, taste, and unique texture. In the year 2021, India yielded over 6 million metric tons of mandarins, which is a significant growth compared to the figure of 3.7 million metric tons in 2015. The figures apparently signal a positive horizon for India when it will become the global leader in producing oranges and their other variants.
“Nagpur Orange” is known for its juicy pulp and unique blend of sweetness.
Nagpur oranges are particularly known for their loose, baggy appearance and unmatched blended taste between acidic and sugary, which one can hardly find anywhere else. Nagpur orange, or “Nagpur Santra” as people usually refer to it, is mainly cultivated in the Satpura Hills of the Vidarbha region in India and is one of the widely yielding orange varieties in the entire country. This unique gift from nature has earned its Geographical Indication tag in the year 2014 to retain its unique taste and the sources of its origin.
Coorg mandarin orange from Southern India serves a royal taste that you can’t afford to miss.
Coorg oranges are grown abundantly in the Kodagu district of Karnataka, which is often regarded as the Kashmir of the south, owing to its pleasant weather. Unlike its Darjeeling and Nagpur counterparts, Coorg oranges are man-made hybrid citrus fruits and a version of Mandarin with tight, greenish skin and a blend of savory-sweet taste that has earned itself global recognition for being different yet tasty. The juicy and succulent Coorg orange has an average production rate of over 45 thousand tonnes.
The world-famous Darjeeling mandarin orange is a pure blessing to our healthy craving.
The pristine valley of Darjeeling is known for its quality oranges and the hilly ambience that has a separate fan base almost all over the world, just like its other pride, the Darjeeling Tea. Darjeeling oranges are comparatively smaller in size than other Indian oranges and have thick, polished skin. Known for its sugar-like taste, which people love to call “Chini," Darjeeling orange is one of the most-awaited delicacies for fruit lovers during the winter.
Apart from treating our healthy cravings, Indian oranges play a major part in the Indian economy, contributing over 175 billion INR to the economy and having their own popularity in the global fruit market. Next time you take a stroll around the market to find the best Indian oranges, consider delving into each one of these to step on a luscious journey.
