Varieties of Citrus Fruit (in Florida)

This incomplete list favors the most common varieties of citrus found in Florida, where I live. It is divided into types of fruit.

Grapefruit

Duncan

This is a big fruit, even for grapefruit. The skin is yellow with a greenish cast. Each segment has a cluster of seeds in the center. It is the source of most grapefruit juice sold in markets.

Marsh Red

For a grapefruit it is fairly large, round but flat at the ends. The smooth, yellow peel has a somewhat pink or red cast to it. The juicy flesh is also pink to red, with few seeds.

Marsh Pink

It looks very much like the Marsh Red except the color is more amber pink. It, too, is a juice grapefruit.

Marsh White

It looks like the other Marsh grapefruit, but with a smooth yellow skin. The flesh is generally seedless and quite juicy.

Orange

Hamlin

The fruit is medium in size and quite round. The thin, smooth peel is from deep yellow to orange in color. There are few if any seeds. It is an excellent source of juice.

Naval

One of the most popular varieties of orange. It is often quite large and round to oval in shape with a fairly thick and bumpy skin, which is easily removed. It be used in preparing other dishes because the segments can be separated easily,

Parsons Brown

This is a fairly large round orange with a peel that is light orange and bumpy to the touch. It often has a greenish cast. There are not many seeds and the juice is almost golden with a full orange flavor.

Pineapple

I've never tried this variety although it has a reputation for being quite sweet and juicy. They tell me it is orange in color with a bumpy skin and is a bit larger than the other varieties of orange.

Temple

This is another popular variety of orange, preferred because it can be eaten out of hand with few seeds to mar the experience. The fruit itself is medium in size with a peel that is deep orange in color. It can be peeled and sectioned quite easily. The flavor and aroma are both quite distinct.

Valencia

I've never seen this variety except in the markets. It's popular because of it rich flavor and the absence of seeds. A good juicer, as well.

Tangelo (a cross of grapefruit with tangerine)

Mineola (also called Honeybell)

It can be larger than the Orlando variety with almost a bell shape. I haven't had this one either.

Orlando

The fruit tends to be large with a light to dark orange color. The skin is not as thin as the tangerine, but it peels easily. It makes a great juice.

Tangerine

Dancy

This fruit is fairly small with an orange to red peel that can be removed easily. I enjoy it because the skin can be removed without mess or fuss. The flesh is sweet with quit a heady aroma.

Honey

Another smallish tangerine with a light orange skin, which is also easy to remove. It gets its name from the rich sweet flavor of the flesh. This is another citrus with a heady aroma that just adds to the taste.

Robinson

It is a fairly large fruit with an orange colored peel, which can be easily removed. It has few seeds and a sweet full flavor