Welcome to the World of Ojai Pixie Tangerines, a Delicious California Fruit

Have you ever ever tasted an Ojai Pixie Tangerine? Effectively, in the event you get the chance, please do give it a strive. Such a California fruit hails from my hometown of Ojai, California.

Do you know that there are lots of of orange varieties, every possessing their very own distinctive, defining traits? You’ve obtained mandarin oranges, blood oranges, tangerines, clementines, cara cara oranges, and lots 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 symbolize varied citrus fruits, corresponding to Smiles, Halos, Cuties, Delights, and Sweeties. One citrus fruit that I’ve a specific attachment to is the Ojai Pixie. If you happen to ever get an opportunity to strive Ojai Pixies (April is Ojai Pixie Month), you need to give them a strive! These shiny, sweet-tart citrus fruits are true treasures and symbolize native rising traditions. 

What are Ojai Pixies?

Ojai Pixies are a sort of tangerine fruit. They arrive from the Ojai Valley of California, the place I dwell. Actually, I’ve two 25-year previous Ojai Pixie bushes rising in my small orchard. The principle 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 coloration 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 fascinating reality: Ojai Pixies are seedless.

Ojai Pixie is a hybrid of pollination of an F1 hybrid, referred to as a Cincy, which implies seed father or mother. Nonetheless, nobody is aware of what the opposite pollination father or mother is. Growth and testing of the tangerines had been performed within the Nineteen 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 below completely 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 bushes 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. Yow will 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’s now the fourth addition to their seasonal tangerine distribution, together with Minneola, Orlando, and Fairchild Tangerines. That is big as they provide them in lots of markets, so now you can get them exterior California even. Go to the Sunkist web site to see if they’re obtainable in a location close to you. And, in the event you actually need to take pleasure in this California fruit, make your technique to Ojai within the late winter by way of spring to seek 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 comprise vitamin C, antioxidants, fiber, and different vitamins. Vitamin C gives good immune system help, 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 may also help defend in opposition to kidney stones.

Questioning the best way to take pleasure in your Ojai Pixies? Whereas I really like them greatest eaten merely out of hand, they’re additionally scrumptious in quite a lot of recipes. 

Prime 5 Methods to Use Ojai Pixies

1. Breakfast with Pixies

Improve your breakfast favorites with Ojai Pixies. Pixies are nice taste enhancers and are certain 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 Darkish Chocolate Orange Waffles.

2. Mix into Smoothies

An incredible addition to your subsequent smoothie, merely swap oranges or mandarins in your smoothie recipe for Pixies, corresponding 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 coloration, 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 too 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 technique to make desserts divine. You may 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, corresponding to marinated tofu kebabs, pasta dishes, energy bowls, and stir-fries, corresponding to my Orange-Peanut Tempeh with Brown rice. The flavour and aroma of the Pixies are certain to spice up your meal.