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

Have you ever ever tasted an Ojai Pixie Tangerine? Properly, should you get the chance, please do give it a attempt. Any such California fruit hails from my hometown of Ojai, California.

Do you know that there are tons of of orange varieties, every possessing their very own distinctive, defining traits? You’ve received mandarin oranges, blood oranges, tangerines, clementines, cara cara oranges, and plenty of extra. Whereas these are all several types of fruits, they’re all part of the identical household. As well as, you’ll discover many manufacturers that characterize numerous citrus fruits, corresponding to Smiles, Halos, Cuties, Delights, and Sweeties. One citrus fruit that I’ve a selected attachment to is the Ojai Pixie. If you happen to ever get an opportunity to attempt Ojai Pixies (April is Ojai Pixie Month), you need to give them a attempt! These vivid, 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 arrive from the Ojai Valley of California, the place I dwell. Actually, I’ve two 25-year previous Ojai Pixie timber rising in my small orchard. The primary 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 colour 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 truth: Ojai Pixies are seedless.

Ojai Pixie is a hybrid of pollination of an F1 hybrid, referred to as a Cincy, which implies seed dad or mum. Nevertheless, nobody is aware of what the opposite pollination dad or mum is. Growth and testing of the tangerines had been carried out within the Nineteen Fifties on the College of California Riverside. For many years, UCR plant breeders planted numerous Pixies in cooperation with growers across the state to see how they’d 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 timber 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. You 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 large 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 accessible in a location close to you. And, should you actually wish to get pleasure from this California fruit, make your method to Ojai within the late winter by spring to search 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 include vitamin C, antioxidants, fiber, and different vitamins. Vitamin C gives good immune system assist, and antioxidants assist scale back irritation and forestall power circumstances like most cancers, diabetes, and coronary heart illness. Fiber helps improve digestive well being and scale back the chance of different digestive points. Moreover, Pixies trigger elevated citrate ranges in urine, which will help defend in opposition to kidney stones.

Questioning find out how to get pleasure from your Ojai Pixies? Whereas I really like them greatest eaten merely out of hand, they’re additionally scrumptious in a wide range of recipes. 

High 5 Methods to Use Ojai Pixies

1. Breakfast with Pixies

Improve 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 Darkish Chocolate Orange Waffles.

2. Mix into Smoothies

An important 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 colour, 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 even 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 method to make desserts divine. You may add Pixies to muffins, 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 positive to spice up your meal.