Orangelo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Orangelo |
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|---|---|
| Hybrid parentage | Citrus paradisi × Citrus sinensis |
| Origin | Puerto Rico |
An orangelo is a special kind of hybrid fruit. It's a mix between a grapefruit and an orange. People believe this unique fruit first appeared in Puerto Rico.
It grew naturally on coffee farms in the mountains of Puerto Rico. These trees were planted to give shade to the coffee plants.
Discovering the Orangelo
In 1956, a person named Carlos G. Moscoso worked for the University of Puerto Rico. He was part of their agriculture team. He noticed some trees on the coffee farms that had very large, bright yellow fruits. These fruits were different from the others.
Scientists then studied these trees. This led to the development of the orangelo fruit we know today.
What's in a Name?
In Puerto Rican Spanish, the orangelo is called chironja. This name is a mix of two words. It comes from "china," which means orange, and "toronja," which means grapefruit. So, "chironja" is like saying "orange-grapefruit"!
Taste and Look
Orangelos are often eaten like grapefruits. You can cut them in half and scoop out the fruit with a spoon. But orangelos are usually sweeter than grapefruits. They also have a brighter color.
They are also easier to peel than grapefruits. Orangelos can be round or shaped a bit like a pear. Inside, they usually have 9 to 13 sections of fruit.
