Looking for fun facts about oranges? From which country grows the most to how they can prevent cancer, we bet you didn’t know about these orange facts!
What can we say, we absolutely love oranges. They’re just a great fruit, aren’t they?
Whether it’s drinking orange juice, eating it slice by slice, or even juggling with them, they’re one of the world’s favorite citrus fruits.
Did you know there are over 600 varieties though? Or that not all oranges are orange? These are just a couple of the fun facts about oranges! You’ll have to keep on reading to find out the rest.
Apart from being high in fiber and potassium, oranges are known as a delicious source of vitamin B and C. In fact, there are a few surprising health benefits of eating oranges (not so much drinking orange juice though…)
They’re cheap, delicious, and damn good for you. Basically, oranges are the perfect addition to a healthy diet. Keep reading to learn more orange facts that you might not know about!
Contents:
20 Fun Facts About Oranges
1. Brazil grows more oranges than anywhere else in the world
Right, let’s kick off with a cracker. Did you know Brazil is the largest producer of oranges in the world? This is followed by China as the second-largest and then the USA. Amazingly, Brazil produces as much as one-third of all oranges grown around the globe.
2. Oranges originally come from southern China and Malaysia
Even though oranges are now grown all over the world, they actually originate from southern China and Malaysia. From Asia, oranges were then brought to Europe first, then the Americas sometime later. Which leads us nicely onto our next orange fact.
3. Oranges are a hybrid and don’t occur naturally
The orange is thought to be a cross of two fruits – the pomelo and the mandarin.
It’s not known exactly when oranges were created, but the first hybrid oranges were extremely rare and expensive. It was only after they became commercially produced and distributed around the world that everyone got the enjoy the benefits of the beautiful orange.
4. The name of the fruit came before the name of the color
The word for orange made its way into the English language in the 1300s. However, the name for orange as a color didn’t appear in English until the 1500s. That means the fruit definitely came before the color.
Another interesting fact about oranges – the name of the orange fruit in German (apfelsine) means “apple from China”, which is where it originated!
5. Not all oranges are orange
When many of us think about an orange, we think of the typical orange colored fruit, but not all oranges are orange. Often when oranges are grown near the tropics, they are green in color. Don’t worry though, green oranges are still delicous!
6. The bigger the navel, the sweeter the orange
This fun fact about oranges can help you pick out the fruit then next time you’re in the supermarket.
If you love your oranges to be sweet and juicy, next time you’re shopping for navel oranges, choose the ones with the largest navels (the middle bit) as they’re the sweetest. Navel oranges also make the sweetest orange juice that we all love drinking.
7. Oranges can help prevent cancer
Besides being delicious, oranges can help us live healthier longer by preventing cancer.
Oranges are loaded with vitamin C which is an antioxidant that helps defend the body against cell damage. There are also many other nutrients and phytocompounds that scientists believe may help protect the body from developing cancer.
8. Eating oranges promotes healthy digestion
Oranges contain high amounts of fiber which help your digestive tract stay healthy. Eating oranges every day can improve the digestive system and also lower stomach acidity.
If you frequently suffer from stomach problems, try adding oranges to your diet to improve your digestion and overall health. You’re welcome.
9. There are more than 600 different varieties of oranges
Did you know there are more than 600 different types of oranges!? The most common are the navel orange, blood orange, tangerine, mandarin, and clementine. Some types are sweeter than others, and some are better for using as fresh-squeezed orange juice than other types.
10. More than 75% of oranges grown are used for orange juice
The world loves eating fruit, and oranges are one of the most popular. But did you know it’s estimated that over three-quarters of oranges grown are destined to be squeezed and drunk as orange juice?
11. Orange juice is the most popular juice in the world
Now that you know most oranges are destined for the glass, it should come as no surprise that orange juice is the world’s most popular juice. You’ve got to be careful though – orange juice contains a surprising amount of sugar. Anyone remember Sunny Delight? So tasty yet so bad for you…
12. Christopher Columbus brought orange seeds to the Americas
Oranges originally come from Asia, eventually making their way to Europe and Africa. Oranges finally arrived in the Americas when Christopher Columbus brought seeds with him on his voyage to the New World. Today, the majority of all oranges produced are from North and South America.
13. Eating oranges can promote better dental health
The vitamin C contained in oranges keeps your gums healthy and your breath fresh. Vitamin C also protects from scurvy (yes, this isn’t just a word associated with pirates).
Basically, make sure to eat lots of oranges if you want a bright healthy smile. Saying that though, eating lots of oranges is no substitute for brushing and flossing your teeth!
14. It takes 14 gallons of water to grow one orange
If you’re worried about the human effect on the environment and global warming, you might want to cut back on how many oranges you eat. It takes an enormous amount of water to grow just one orange.
Like almonds, growing oranges uses a lot of water and has an impact on the environment where lots of them are grown. It takes roughly 14 gallons of water to grow just one orange – crazy, right?
15. Oranges strengthens your immune system
Everyone knows oranges are a great source of vitamin C, which helps support your immune system. Oranges are also a great source of vitamins and other important nutrients and reduce oxidative stress in the cells in your body, keeping you healthy.
Also, it’s been proven that eating oranges can even help protect you from viruses like the common cold.
16. Eating oranges can improve the appearance of your skin
The vitamin C contained in oranges can help your skin look firmer and brighter. Eating oranges also helps stimulate your body’s natural collagen production which can help improve the appearance of wrinkles. Oranges can even help clear up old acne scars. If you want a beautiful face, eat more oranges.
17. Adding oranges to your diet can help prevent hair loss
It may seem unlikely, but oranges can help you to recover lost hair, or may even help prevent more hair loss in the future. As with many other things in your body, vitamin C can help keep your hair and scalp healthy.
If you’re worried about going bald, perhaps you need to head to the store and grab some oranges.
18. Eating an orange is healthier than drinking orange juice
While orange juice is delicious, it contains a very large amount of sugar and is not healthy to consume a lot of. Why not reach for an orange and peel it for a snack instead? You’ll reap all the healthy benefits of the orange if you eat the entire thing instead of just drinking the juice.
19. Oranges can improve your vision
We often think of carrots as being healthy for our eyes, but did you know oranges can also be healthy for our eyes too? Oranges contain a large amount of vitamin A just like carrots which can help protect your eyes from macular degeneration and vision loss.
20. Florida, the Sunshine State
Oranges, along with other citrus fruits, have been produced commercially in Florida since the mid-1800s. Early Spanish explorers planted the first orange trees in Florida in the mid-1500s, but they only became truly popular a few centuries later.
Who wants more fun facts?
If you’re looking for some recommendations, these are a few of our favorite fact books to buy. We use these when planning fun trivia nights with family and friends!
