Blood Orange

The mutation of the sweet orange into the blood orange appears to have occurred in Sicily between the 7 th and 10th century AD. The variety was developed in Sicily under the cultivation expertise of the Moors, who were Muslims that once ruled throughout North Africa and parts of the Mediterranean.

Less successful in the United States (due mainly to unfavorable growing conditions), this variety is mostly grown in the Mediterranean, with a concentration of crops in southern Italy To achieve its distinctive coloring, the blood orange needs the cooler temperatures and specific soil conditions that can be found in the Mount Etna growing region of Sicily Pakistan, on a smaller scale, also has suitable conditions for producing the blood orange.