Have you ever tasted an Ojai Pixie Tangerine? Well, in the event you get the chance, please do give it a strive. This kind of California fruit hails from my hometown of Ojai, California.
Did you realize that there are a whole bunch of orange varieties, every possessing their very own distinctive, defining traits? You’ve bought mandarin oranges, blood oranges, tangerines, clementines, cara cara oranges, and lots of extra. While these are all various kinds of fruits, they’re all part of the identical household. In addition, you’ll discover many manufacturers that characterize varied citrus fruits, resembling Smiles, Halos, Cuties, Delights, and Sweeties. One citrus fruit that I’ve a selected attachment to is the Ojai Pixie. If you ever get an opportunity to strive Ojai Pixies (April is Ojai Pixie Month), it’s essential to give them a strive! 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 come from the Ojai Valley of California, the place I stay. In reality, I’ve two 25-year previous Ojai Pixie timber rising in my small orchard. The most important distinction between a tangerine and an orange is the dimensions. Tangerines don’t develop as massive 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. In addition, Ojai Pixies have a crisp, crunchy texture that makes them a delight to chew into. Another fascinating reality: Ojai Pixies are seedless.
Ojai Pixie is a hybrid of pollination of an F1 hybrid, referred to as a Cincy, which suggests seed father or mother. However, nobody is aware of what the opposite pollination father or mother is. Development and testing of the tangerines have been performed within the Nineteen Fifties on the University of California Riverside. For many years, UCR plant breeders planted varied Pixies in cooperation with growers across the state to see how they’d 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 May—with Ojai Pixie Month celebrated in April. This restricted availability and distinctive style makes them extremely wanted. You can discover 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 is now the fourth addition to their seasonal tangerine distribution, together with Minneola, Orlando, and Fairchild Tangerines. This is big 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 accessible in a location close to you. And, in the event you actually wish to get pleasure from this California fruit, make your technique to Ojai within the late winter by means of spring to search out them in supermarkets and farmers markets.
What are the Health Benefits of this California Fruit?
Ojai Pixies, like all oranges, have many dietary advantages. Ojai Pixies comprise vitamin C, antioxidants, fiber, and different vitamins. Vitamin C gives good immune system assist, and antioxidants assist cut back irritation and stop continual circumstances like most cancers, diabetes, and coronary heart illness. Fiber helps improve digestive well being and cut back the chance of different digestive points. Furthermore, Pixies trigger elevated citrate ranges in urine, which may also help defend towards kidney stones.
Wondering how one can get pleasure from your Ojai Pixies? While I like them greatest eaten merely out of hand, they’re additionally scrumptious in a wide range of recipes.
Top 5 Ways to Use Ojai Pixies
1. Breakfast with Pixies
Upgrade your breakfast favorites with Ojai Pixies. Pixies are nice taste enhancers and are positive to take your breakfast to the following stage. Use them in breakfast recipes, together with porridge bowls, oatmeal bakes, and baked items, like these Vegan Dark Chocolate Orange Waffles.
2. Blend into Smoothies
A fantastic addition to your subsequent smoothie, merely swap oranges or mandarins in your smoothie recipe for Pixies, resembling this Pomegranate Mandarin Smoothie. Better 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 may also 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 Vinaigrette.
4. Delectable Deserts
Fruits are such a easy technique to make desserts divine. You can add Pixies to truffles, 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, resembling marinated tofu kebabs, pasta dishes, energy bowls, and stir-fries, resembling my Orange-Peanut Tempeh with Brown rice. The taste and aroma of the Pixies are positive to spice up your meal.
Written by Nikki Harrison, dietetic intern and Sharon Palmer, MSFS, RDN
Photos by Sharon Palmer, MSFS, RDN
For extra guides on how one can use plant meals, try the next:
How to Cook Kohlrabi
Persimmons 101: Health Benefits, Recipes, and More
How to Use Cherimoya
Health Benefits of Pumpkin Seeds
How to Cook All Greens