Cara Mia! The Fascinating, Pink World of Cara Cara Oranges

Not that we think Gomez Addams would ever be unfaithful to his beloved Morticia, but if there was ever a rival for his affections, it would have to be the ghoulishly glamorous Cara; the bewitching face of Dracula Citrus^™’ Pink Cara Cara Oranges.

From the outside, they may look like regular oranges to the casual, unsuspecting victim fruit connoisseur. However, one perfectly aimed swipe with Gomez’s sword and all your legacy assumptions about oranges come crashing down.

With their stunning pink flesh and the perfect balance of sweet and tangy, firm and juicy, making them ideal for eating or juicing, Cara Cara Oranges have catapulted to citrus superstardom in recent years.

Where did they come from? How did they develop that signature rosy hue, and how do they stack up against other citrus varieties in the nutrition stakes? All these questions and more shall be resolved as we take a deep, Dracula-style dive into the surprisingly fascinating and dreadfully delicious world of Cara Cara Oranges.

So, What Exactly Are Cara Cara Oranges?

Essentially, Cara Caras are a naturally occurring mutant offshoot of the Navel clan. No surprises here; you can see right off the bat why they were welcomed so enthusiastically into the weird and wonderful Dracula Citrus^™ family.

You had us at “mutant”, Cara Cara!

Navel oranges themselves are also a naturally occurring mutant strain. That knobbly bit at the bottom of navels? It’s actually a second, mini-navel developing inside the host, forever doomed to be discarded with the peel. Cara Caras have inherited the same gnarly looking succubus lurking in their base and a similar meaty texture to Navels, but are easily distinguished by their gorgeous pink, seedless flesh.

Where Do Cara Cara Oranges Come From?

Nestled in the hills of Carabobo State in Venezuela sits the magnificent farm and homestead of Hacienda Cara Cara.

On what seemed like a regular day in 1976, a farmer was strolling through the Washington Navel orchard when they noticed one branch bearing budding fruit that looked eerily odd. Interest piqued, further examination revealed that this was a spontaneous mutation that gave the embryonic fruit a distinct pinkish tinge.

As a bonus, delicious irony, the nearest major city to the rolling Navel groves of Hacienda Cara Cara is called…Valencia. No joke.

So… Are Cara Cara Oranges Genetically Modified?

A resounding “No” to this one.

It was Mother Nature who did all the heavy lifting in this case. No mysterious underground labs and no mad citrus scientist using 6 drops of Essence of Terror and 5 Drops of Sinister Sauce involved at any point in the process.

It was only once the change was discovered that the mad citrus scientists were called in, and their analysis identified the specific naturally occurring genetic mutation, which was then brought to the world’s attention.

Thus, we were introduced to a beautiful, completely GMO-free, scrumptious new variety of orange, and the formerly sleepy environs of Hacienda Cara Cara were thrust very much into the global horticultural limelight.

What Gives Cara Cara Oranges Their Pink Colour?

An excellent question. Glad you asked.

You may be lured into thinking that Cara Cara’s deep pinkish tinge makes them simply “Blood Light”. However, the signature colouring comes from a completely different source to that of Dracula Citrus^™’ flagship fruit. Whereas our beloved Blood Oranges get their complexion from powerful antioxidants called anthocyanins, Cara Caras get a spectacular sunset hue from a far more familiar source: Lycopene. If that rings a bell, it’s because it’s the same carotenoid pigment found in tomatoes and carrots. That’s right, your yummy Cara Cara would feel as genetically at home in a salad as it does in your fruit bowl.

So, how did Lycopene weasel its way into an orange? Well, the citrus family tree is particularly gnarly and filled with diabolical twists and turns. However, within the tangled web of branches sits pink grapefruit, which gets its colour from the same pigment. Navels are not directly descended from Grapefruits, but they share a common ancestor in the venerable Pomelo, so the dormant gene is clearly doing a leisurely backstroke somewhere in the pool.

Are Cara Cara Oranges Good For You?

No prizes for guessing that the answer to this one is an emphatic and resounding YES! They are an orange, after all, and everyone knows that oranges are crammed with vitamins, minerals and fibre that can help keep us healthy and regular. Our fiery friends are no exception. A Cara Cara a day will certainly keep the vampires away.

That’s great news for dedicated Cara Caraites and a burgeoning new fan base. However, how do they stack up against other varieties?

Cara Cara Oranges Vs Navels – Battle of the Generations

As we’ve established, Cara Caras are an offshoot of Navels, so it makes sense that their nutritional profile is relatively similar. Having said that, the younger generation outdoes its progenitor in a couple of different ways. Compared with Navels, Cara Caras typically contain:

• 20% more Vitamin C
• 30% more Vitamin A
• Powerful antioxidants in the form of our old friend Lycopene, which is absent in Navels

We guess you could say that the relationship is kind of like the Stiller family: Jerry was a comedic icon, but Ben Stiller took it to a whole new level.

Cara Cara Oranges Vs Blood Orange

It’s pretty hard to outdo Blood Oranges in the health stakes. We’ve previously devoted plenty of pixels to discussing the incredible health benefits of Blood Oranges. However, it turns out this fight is a bit more of a blockbuster. How do they compare head-to-head?

• Vitamin C – Both are higher than regular navels, but Cara Caras have a slight edge over Bloods. Round 1 to Young Pinkie!
• Vitamin A – Blood Oranges square the ledger! Again, both are superior to Navels, but Bloods contain more than double the Vitamin A of Cara Caras.
• Antioxidants – Anthocyanins and Lycopene are both powerful compounds, but Anthocyanins are the undisputed champions in the Antioxidant battle.

Let’s be clear: both varieties are frighteningly good for you, so you can’t go wrong either way. However, in this heavyweight championship of nutrition, Bloods arguably have a slight edge.

When Are Cara Cara Oranges In Season In Australia?

If you’re reading this at the time of publication, it’s right now, so stop what you’re doing, run down to the nearest stockist and grab yourself a bag of spectacularly delicious Dracula Cara Caras!

If you’re late to the party, all may not be lost!

For our Australian fan base, you can get your hands on Dracula Citrus^™ Cara Caras from June through to November. For everyone in the Northern Hemisphere (America, Canada, Puerto Rico) you’ll find Dracula Citrus^™ Cara Caras in store from August through to November.

Hopefully there’s still time for you to sink your fangs into these superb fruity treats. If you’ve missed the boat, we promise you, they’ll be worth the wait!

Got Any Good Cara Cara Orange Recipes?

As a matter of fact, we do!

Cara Cara adds a delectably sweet/tart, citrusy flavour and an aesthetic pink tinge to salads, smoothies, cocktails/mocktails, or as a gastronomic counterpoint to savoury mains such as an exotic citrus-infused Moroccan tagine.

However, dessert is truly their time to shine. We are particularly partial to this absolutely drop-dropping Cara Cara Orange Layer Cake, which includes a dreamy Cara Cara Orange Curd that can moonlight in countless other tangy dessert recipes.

If you love citrus, are a dyed-in-the-wool or soon-to-become devoted fan of Cara Cara and also fancy your mad kitchen skills in the kitchen, then these ideas and more recipe inspo can help you channel your citrus creativity.

The Final Word – Pink is the New Orange

If this hasn’t whetted your appetite for a Cara Cara orange, then it’s probable that you’ve joined the undead minions of Dracula’s vampire kin.

For the rest of us with a pulse, an express trip on the Cara Cara bandwagon directly to Taste Town is arguably one of the best things you can do for your mouth, not to mention the rest of your body. Bursting with amazing flavour, brimming with healthy nutrients and boasting one of the most visually appealing shades that Mother Nature has ever imagined, it’s close to the perfect package.

From humble origins in the hills of Venezuela to a Dracula Citris stockist near you, Cara Cara oranges are everything you could ask for in a piece of fruit – and more. If you’re craving one right now, here’s where you can wrap your claws around them:

In Australia: Costco

In the USA: Publix, Raleys, Albertsons, H Mart, T&T Supermarket, Gelson’s, Wholefoods, Hy-Vee, New Seasons

In Canada: T&T Supermarket

In Puerto Rico: Walmart

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