"Don't be too restrictive, let's have some sugar oranges. ”
Whenever we go to visit relatives during the Chinese New Year, there will always be a plate of sugar oranges on the other party's table to entertain guests.
It can be said that sugar oranges are a must-have fruit for the New Year.
But do you really pick sugar oranges?
How to choose between those with leaves and those without leaves?
The Sweetness and Bitterness of Sugar Oranges: The Journey from Guangdong Sihui to the World
When it comes to sugar oranges, I guess everyone has endless things to say.
Every winter, especially at the end of the year, sugar oranges will take over everyone's home with lightning speed.
It can be said that almost every household will have sugar oranges on hand.
The appearance characteristics of sugar orange are very obvious, the fruit is flat and round, there are prominent oil cells on the skin, and the skin is thin and easy to peel.
The flesh is crisp and tender, the taste is delicate, juicy and flavorful, and sweet like sugar, which makes sugar orange stand out among many citrus varieties and become one of the favorite fruits of people.
However, what many people don't know is that China, as the birthplace of sugar oranges, has a long history of cultivation.
The Sihui area of Guangdong is simply a citrus paradise, and the geographical conditions here are simply tailor-made for citrus.
The star of the show is the tangerine, which stands out from the crowd of citrus varieties due to its unique flavor and nutritional value.
It is said that the origin of sand tangerines can be traced back 400 years.
In the Ming Dynasty, sand sugar oranges were the emperor's royal tribute, think about it, how expensive it is!
Later, with the development of science and technology and agricultural technology, the quality of sugar tangerines has been improved to a higher level.
There is more sugar, less acidity, and the pit is gone, which is more in line with our modern tastes.
As for the characteristics of sand tangerine, it is impossible to say that the skin is thin and easy to peel, the aroma is tangy, and the taste is strong, these are its labels.
Such sugar oranges have naturally become a hot commodity in the market, and they have met our demand for fresh citrus.
In the beginning, sugar oranges quickly occupied an important position in the market because of their good taste and affordable price.
Gradually, its reputation became more and more exported abroad, and it once became a "hot fruit" in the eyes of people, and sugar oranges began to be grown in large quantities in many places.
It can be said that sugar orange is a very popular fruit, and it is often found on the winter table of many families because of its bright and attractive color and sweet and delicious taste.
However, when buying sugar oranges, you may find some sugar oranges with leaves and others without, which makes people a little confused.
In fact, these leaves on sugar tangerines are not only an interesting feature, they also tell us how fresh sugar oranges are, and even help them stay fresh.
Sugar orange leaves: a sign of freshness and the key to preservation
It can be said that the leaves on the sugar orange are like a "certificate of freshness".
When you see a sugar orange with green leaves hanging on it, it means that the sugar orange is directly plucked from the tree and is super fresh.
What's more, these leaves also help sugar oranges lock in moisture and keep their flavor fresh.
So, the next time you buy sugar oranges, remember to pick the ones that still have green leaves.
The importance of sugar orange leaves is mainly manifested in two aspects: one is as a symbol of freshness, and the other is that it has the function of maintaining freshness.
Fresh sugar oranges are often sold immediately after picking, and sugar oranges with fresh leaves are a manifestation of this situation.
Not only that, but the leaves also help to retain the moisture of the sugar orange, allowing it to stay fresh during transportation and storage.
It is important to know that sugar oranges with leaves not only maintain the freshness of the fruits, but also help them maintain their bright colors and make them look more attractive.
What's more, sugar oranges with leaves tend to contain more nutrients.
This is because the nutrients in the leaves can be transferred to the fruit of the sugar orange through the stem, making the sugar orange more nutritious.
The leaves also contribute to the long-term preservation of sugar oranges, making them less perishable, which is a boon for both merchants and consumers.
Of course, not all sugar oranges with leaves are the freshest.
We looked at it from a distance, and a large cart of sugar oranges was placed there, with green leaves, which looked appetizing.
However, if we take a closer look, we will find that the state of these leaves is also different, which also affects the taste of sugar oranges.
Those sugar oranges with flat leaves will definitely be our first choice, because it means that the oranges have not been picked for a long time, and the taste is definitely better than the others.
If there are leaves that look very wilted, everyone should pay attention to this kind of this, which means that these oranges have been left for a long time, and the taste is not as good as fresh, and even the moisture will be lost, which is very uncomfortable to eat.
What's more, if you find a sugar orange with white spots on the leaves, don't buy it.
The existence of these mildew spots is to reveal to us that these sugar oranges have powdery mildew.
Eating this sugar orange may pose a health risk, so it's best not to touch it.
In addition, the leaves also play an important role in the preservation of sugar oranges.
During the picking process, the leaves not only protect the peel and pulp of the sugar orange and reduce damage, but also help the sugar orange retain moisture and prolong the storage time.
Even if you buy a large amount of sugar oranges, as long as they are properly stored, they can be stored for ten days and half a month without being easy to rot, which is very important for home consumption and merchant transportation.
Therefore, the leaves of sugar oranges are not only a sign of freshness, but also the key to preservation.
When buying sugar oranges, choose sugar oranges with freshly opened green leaves, which have the best taste and last longer.
Both consumers and merchants should pay attention to the leaves of sugar oranges to judge and preserve sugar oranges.
For peace of mind, don't forget to wash the sugar oranges before eating them.
Where did the leaves of the sugar orange go?
It is important to know that the leaves of sugar oranges are one of the important indicators to judge their freshness.
Normally, sugar oranges are picked with fresh leaves.
However, sometimes we see sugar oranges without leaves, so what's going on?
In fact, during the harvesting process, workers may cut off the leaves to make the fruit easier to pack and transport.
Some merchants may mix the sugar oranges that have lost their leaves with the freshly picked sugar oranges and sell them together, which is why we see some sugar oranges without leaves in the market.
There is also the possibility that the sugar orange is too ripe, causing the leaves to fall off naturally.
If the leaves of the sugar orange look fresh, then the sugar orange may be fresh, and if the leaves of the sugar orange look dry, then the sugar orange may not be fresh.
Not only that, but if the leaves of the sugar orange fall off at the touch of it, then the sugar orange may not be fresh, because the leaves of the fresh sugar orange should grow firmly on the sugar orange.
Therefore, when buying sugar oranges, it is best to avoid picking sugar oranges that have no leaves.
So, if there are no leaves, how can we judge the freshness of sugar oranges, and how can we pick out fresh sugar oranges?
Sugar orange selection strategy: how to choose high-quality sugar oranges
In fact, in this case, consumers should carefully observe the pedicle of the sugar orange, if the pedicle is dry, then this may mean that the sugar orange is not fresh enough.
In order to buy sugar oranges that are both delicious and healthy, we need to master some selection skills.
I would like to remind you that sugar oranges are not always better as they are.
When we went to buy sugar oranges, the owner of the fruit shop would say that the sugar oranges were big and tasted very sweet.
In fact, these are all misleading to consumers.
When my mother and I went to buy sugar oranges, my mother would often pick up the sugar orange and press it lightly twice, and then put it down and say that this is not good, hard, and after she finished speaking, she would pick up the next one.
Later, I saw information on the Internet that when buying sugar oranges, you can actually feel its ripeness by gently pressing it twice.
Because the ripe sugar orange actually has a certain elasticity, we can feel that its skin is very soft when we pinch it gently, and it feels very good to pick it up.
Such a sugar orange will definitely not step on the thunder when you buy it home.
Anyway, after all these years, I have always thought that the sugar oranges that my mother bought are the most delicious, and they seem to be sweeter than those eaten elsewhere.
Another way is to look at the belly button of the sugar orange, which some say is its "butt".
There is a good saying: the sweeter the orange, the higher the butt.
The bulging sugar orange is the so-called "buttocks" type, and it has a small yellow tail that protrudes on the side of the buttocks.
If you get such an orange when picking it, then there is no doubt that it is a good orange.
When some people go to buy oranges, they will deliberately pick some beautiful sugar oranges.
In fact, it's not always the better it is.
Sugar oranges, which look very conspicuous at first glance, are likely to have been washed or colored.
Uncolored sugar oranges will look darker.
Therefore, when we buy sugar oranges, we should try to choose those natural color sugar oranges.
Although colorants are harmless to humans in moderate amounts, excessive pigment intake may have an impact on our health.
Therefore, we can't blindly pursue good looks, healthy and delicious is the truth.
Of course, we must not choose those sugar oranges that are damaged on the surface, because once the skin of sugar oranges is damaged, many bacteria will quickly grow.
In any case, the selection of high-quality sugar oranges requires careful observation and feeling.
Hopefully, these tips will help you make an informed choice when buying sugar oranges.
In fact, there is a very interesting question about sugar oranges:
Sugar oranges are relatively low in sugar and calories, but why does excessive consumption lead to fat accumulation and irritation? What is the science behind this?
What do you think?