Cara Cara oranges (Citrus sinensis'Cara Cara') are Navel group oranges that originated from a spontaneous mutation of the Washington Navel, discovered in 1976 at Hacienda de Cara Cara, in Venezuela. Like all Navels, they have the characteristic twin fruit (the "navel") at the apex and are easy to peel. Their pink flesh and exceptionally sweet taste make them one of the most prized orange varieties: in the United States, they are sold as "red navels". Ours grow in the organic citrus groves of Francofonte, between the Plain of Catania and the Hyblaean Mountains.

The pink flesh of Cara Cara oranges is due to lycopene, an antioxidant carotenoid also found in tomatoes, watermelon, and pink grapefruit. This is the substantial difference compared to the red oranges of Sicily (Tarocco, Moro, Sanguinello), whose color comes from anthocyanins and requires large nocturnal temperature fluctuations. Lycopene, on the other hand, develops with the sun and does not depend on the cold: this is why the Cara Cara is always a pigmented navel, with pink flesh from the beginning to the end of the season.

Cara Cara oranges have a sweet taste with very low acidity and a slight red fruit aftertaste, often described as raspberry or cherry. They are seedless and very juicy. Their low acidity makes them ideal oranges for those who find other varieties too tart: perfect for eating fresh, in citrus salads, and for a naturally pink and sweet juice, with no added sugar.

In Sicily, Cara Cara oranges are harvested from December to April. The flesh begins to pigment from the end of November, and between January and March, the sugar-to-acid ratio reaches its best balance. You can find them on AranceBio throughout the season: we harvest based on orders and ship freshly picked, on Mondays and Tuesdays, for fresh delivery in 24/48 hours throughout Italy.

Partially green skin does not indicate an unripe fruit. The orange color of the skin depends on the temperature fluctuations between day and night: at the beginning of the season, or in warmer years, the skin may remain greenish while the flesh is already pink, sweet, and ripe. "Green Cara Cara" oranges have the same properties and taste as the others: only the external appearance changes, as happens with green lemons.

Both are colored-flesh oranges, but from different families. The Cara Cara is a pink-fleshed navel pigmented by lycopene, almost completely lacking acidity and seedless; the Tarocco PGIis a red orange colored by anthocyanins, with a more vibrant and acidic taste. For the classic Sicilian red juice, choose Tarocco; if you prefer a very sweet table orange, Cara Cara is the right choice.

A medium-sized Cara Cara orange covers approximately the daily vitamin C requirement of an adult and provides fiber, potassium, folate, and lycopene. Being organic and not treated post-harvest with waxes or preservatives, the peel of our Cara Cara oranges can be used for zest, jams, and desserts.

The Cara Cara(Citrus sinensis'Cara Cara') is a pigmented Navel orange, born in 1976 in Venezuela as a spontaneous mutation of the Washington Navel. The flesh is a characteristic coral pink — due to lycopene — and is seedless. The taste is sweet, with very low acidity and delicate notes of red fruits.

Available from December to April, it is cultivated according to certified organic farming principles in Francofonte, in the province of Syracuse. Harvesting takes place after the order, with delivery in 24/48 hours throughout Italy.

Arancebio is an agricultural company in Francofonte (SR), in the heart of the citrus-growing area of eastern Sicily. We cultivate Cara Cara oranges with organic certification and a short supply chain: no cold storage, no stops in the warehouse. You order, we harvest, we ship. Also discover our other organic Sicilian orangesand seasonal blond oranges.