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Have you ever ever tasted an Ojai Pixie Tangerine? Effectively, in case you get the chance, please do give it a attempt. This kind of California fruit hails from my hometown of Ojai, California.
Do you know that there are a whole bunch of orange varieties, every possessing their very own distinctive, defining traits? You’ve acquired mandarin oranges, blood oranges, tangerines, clementines, cara cara oranges, and plenty of extra. Whereas these are all various kinds of fruits, they’re all part of the identical household. As well as, you’ll discover many manufacturers that signify varied citrus fruits, equivalent to Smiles, Halos, Cuties, Delights, and Sweeties. One citrus fruit that I’ve a specific attachment to is the Ojai Pixie. In case you ever get an opportunity to attempt Ojai Pixies (April is Ojai Pixie Month), you should give them a attempt! These vibrant, sweet-tart citrus fruits are true treasures and symbolize native rising traditions.
What are Ojai Pixies?
Ojai Pixies are a kind of tangerine fruit. They arrive from the Ojai Valley of California, the place I dwell. Actually, I’ve two 25-year previous Ojai Pixie timber rising in my small orchard. The primary distinction between a tangerine and an orange is the scale. Tangerines don’t develop as large as oranges. Ojai Pixie Tangerines are small with skinny clean pores and skin, making them simple to peel. The fruit has a vibrant orange shade giving the fruit a juicy and candy taste with a touch of tartness. As well as, Ojai Pixies have a crisp, crunchy texture that makes them a delight to chew into. One other attention-grabbing truth: Ojai Pixies are seedless.
Ojai Pixie is a hybrid of pollination of an F1 hybrid, known as a Cincy, which implies seed dad or mum. Nonetheless, nobody is aware of what the opposite pollination dad or mum is. Improvement and testing of the tangerines had been performed within the Fifties on the College of California Riverside. For many years, UCR plant breeders planted varied Pixies in cooperation with growers across the state to see how they might develop beneath totally different circumstances. They discovered that with Pixies being fairly delicate to microclimates, this tangerine grew greatest within the Ojai valley.
Ojai Pixies take 11 to fifteen months to ripen, so they’re on the timber throughout winter and ripen in spring. Ojai Pixies are solely in season from March to Could—with Ojai Pixie Month celebrated in April. This restricted availability and distinctive style makes them extremely wanted. You’ll find them at farmers’ markets, specialty, grocery shops, and on-line retailers. Sunkist has jumped on board, including the Ojai Pixies to their citrus assortment. It’s now the fourth addition to their seasonal tangerine distribution, together with Minneola, Orlando, and Fairchild Tangerines. That is large as they provide them in lots of markets, so now you can get them outdoors California even. Go to the Sunkist web site to see if they’re out there in a location close to you. And, in case you actually need to take pleasure in this California fruit, make your option to Ojai within the late winter by means of spring to search out them in supermarkets and farmers markets.
What are the Well being Advantages of this California Fruit?
Ojai Pixies, like all oranges, have many dietary advantages. Ojai Pixies include vitamin C, antioxidants, fiber, and different vitamins. Vitamin C offers good immune system assist, and antioxidants assist scale back irritation and stop power circumstances like most cancers, diabetes, and coronary heart illness. Fiber helps improve digestive well being and scale back the danger of different digestive points. Moreover, Pixies trigger elevated citrate ranges in urine, which can assist defend towards kidney stones.
Questioning how one can take pleasure in your Ojai Pixies? Whereas I really like them greatest eaten merely out of hand, they’re additionally scrumptious in a wide range of recipes.
High 5 Methods to Use Ojai Pixies
1. Breakfast with Pixies
Improve your breakfast favorites with Ojai Pixies. Pixies are nice taste enhancers and are positive to take your breakfast to the subsequent stage. Use them in breakfast recipes, together with porridge bowls, oatmeal bakes, and baked items, like these Vegan Darkish Chocolate Orange Waffles.
2. Mix into Smoothies
An ideal addition to your subsequent smoothie, merely swap oranges or mandarins in your smoothie recipe for Pixies, equivalent to this Pomegranate Mandarin Smoothie. Higher but, simply toss one into any smoothie, from inexperienced smoothies to berry smoothies.
3. Toss into Salads
Ojai Pixie’s shade, texture, and citrus style could make for a refreshing vegetable, grain, pulse, or fruit salad. Not solely are they nice as toppings, however you can even make a citrus French dressing by whisking Pixie juice, olive oil, cumin, and salt and pepper. Add Pixies to this recipe for Swiss Chard Salad with Oranges and Citrus French dressing.
4. Delectable Deserts
Fruits are such a easy option to make desserts divine. You possibly can add Pixies to muffins, bars, cookies, pies, and extra, beginning with this recipe for Ojai Pixie Vegan Cheesecake Cups.
5. Savory Dishes
Add Ojai Pixies to your subsequent savory entrée, equivalent to marinated tofu kebabs, pasta dishes, energy bowls, and stir-fries, equivalent to my Orange-Peanut Tempeh with Brown rice. The flavour and aroma of the Pixies are positive to spice up your meal.
Written by Nikki Harrison, dietetic intern and Sharon Palmer, MSFS, RDN
Pictures by Sharon Palmer, MSFS, RDN
For extra guides on how one can use plant meals, take a look at the next:
The best way to Prepare dinner Kohlrabi
Persimmons 101: Well being Advantages, Recipes, and Extra
The best way to Use Cherimoya
Well being Advantages of Pumpkin Seeds
The best way to Prepare dinner All Greens
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