Pretty In Pink: Cara Cara Oranges

The Pink Lady Apple is certainly hot, but have you tried the Cara Cara Orange? No, that’s not a typo. I didn’t stutter. That’s the name of the Orange, Cara Cara. It was found in 1976 on a farm in northern Venezuela, just outside Valencia, the capitol city of Carabobo. In town, you can find an empanada or two, and sip on a guarapita made with juice from this famous local pink Orange. The name of the farm this Orange came from happened to be the Hacienda de Cara Cara. It first made its way to Florida in the 1980s where it became marketed as a “Pink Navel Orange.”   From the outside, this Orange looks just like a regular Navel Orange, but cut one in half and you will find a world of pink, with a beautiful rosy red or salmon red color. Once you cut one, the next thing you notice will be the aroma. It has one of the nicest floral aromas of any of the citrus family. As with many other Oranges, the Cara Cara is primarily grown in the San Joaquin Valley. They are a bit more expensive than a regular Navel Orange, but each year, as more orchards come into production, prices seem to be coming down. You can find them retailing around $1.29 - $1.49 per pound. You can keep them on your counter for storage. Chefs have learned to love the Cara Cara to make sauces, but I also think Pink in salads. The pink flesh looks great in any green salad