From apple to lemon

While the harvest season of domestic fruits like apple, pears and berries extends from spring to fall, citrus fruits have their peak season during the winter months. Although we at AUSTRIA JUICE mainly harvest and utilize domestic fruits for our products, that are grown in Europe, citrus fruits are an indispensable part of beverage creation and complete the portfolio of basic ingredients for juices and drinks. Which flavors rock with citrus now - and why the tangy fruit is in peak season right now.

From April to November, we at AUSTRIA JUICE continuously harvest domestic fruits and vegetables. First and foremost apples, pears, various berries and vegetables such as carrots. Although citrus fruits are not native to Austria, they are a classic in beverages and therefore have a fixed place in our product portfolio: Whether oranges, blood oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit, satsuma, mandarin or yuzu - each variety of the citrus family also scores with its own note, which can range from sour to bitter to fruity-sweet.

Citrus fruits are also popular because of their vitamin C content: Vitamin C contributes to normal immune system function and is also considered an important antioxidant, often playing a major role in anti-aging products. It is added to facial creams and beauty serums, among others, because in the right amount and with regular intake, it helps the body maintain normal collagen production. So citrus has the potential to make it big in drinks that support a conscious lifestyle!

Not for nothing do more and more health-conscious people swear by a glass of lukewarm lemon water on an empty stomach in the morning: Best drunk before the first cup of coffee, it replenishes the fluid reserves after the night and makes you fresh and alert! And: What would a hearty breakfast be without a cool glass of orange juice? The bitter-sweet grapefruit juice has also become a popular morning drink.

Citrus fruits are at home in bars and kitchens around the world. They refine countless dishes, give different foods their sparkling taste and are indispensable on the list of ingredients of various cocktails and other mixed drinks.

Harvest time determines the taste

Citrus fruits are fascinating in their taste and their variety: Also within their individual variety groups there are numerous variants: For example, more than 400 different varieties of oranges and about 20 relevant grapefruit cultivars grow on the trees worldwide, which can be distinguished among other things by the color of their pulp.

Today, citrus fruits are grown and harvested in many parts of the world - oranges, lemons and grapefruits, for example in Spain, oranges as well in Brazil. However, oranges originate in China and the country of origin of the lemons is India.

Citrus fruits: Ripening time in winter

Lemons, oranges and Co. are cultivated in plantations and thrive best in southern slopes. These offer protection from wind and cold and make the best use of sunlight and heat. They bloom in spring and the fruits themselves are ripe after about nine months.
The harvest periods for the lemons start in October and end in January, while the orange are in focus in their season between September and January and in Brazil also from January to June. For oranges, as with all other citrus fruits, the right harvest time is important as they do not mature afterwards. Oranges are mainly harvested from the trees by means of vibrating machines. The oranges are then collected in drip trays. Basically, the fruits of older trees convince with a higher quality.

Citrus fruits as an aromatic combination

In the kitchen and in the composition of beverages, citrus fruits open up an almost infinite variety for flavor combinations. The following mixtures harmonize very well:

• Blood Orange
This fits: chocolate, cinnamon, almonds, cardamom, honey, cloves, figs, ginger, other citrus fruits

• Orange
It goes well with: almond, basil, pineapple, vanilla, various berries, cherry, coriander, cinnamon, coffee, chocolate, cranberry, fig, ginger, grape, hazelnut, mint, nutmeg

• Grapefruit
It goes well with: caramel, vanilla, other citrus fruits, basil, black pepper, mint, rosemary, thyme, various tropical fruits

• Tangerine
Chocolate, cinnamon, coffee, vanilla, star anise, cardamom, cherry, fig, ginger, nutmeg, tropical fruits

In the future, continue to rely on the classic ways to use citrus - and discover the new ones!
Juice shots, in particular, are growing in popularity among consumers: With a juice content of 100 percent, they provide full citrus power in small quantities: a high vitamin C content in these products contributes to normal immune system function and is a popular product, especially in winter, that supports a conscious and vital lifestyle.

CONCLUSION:

Citrus juices are an essential ingredient in every kitchen and bar. They can also play a significant role in the upcoming functional and beauty drinks as well as in the trendy juice shots due to their high vitamin C content. AUSTRIA JUICE now offers, in addition to the classic range, products made from citrus fruits of the best quality at prices in line with the market.