Orangelo
Encyclopedia
An orangelo is a hybrid citrus
fruit believed to have originated in Puerto Rico
. The fruit, a cross between a grapefruit
and an orange
, had spontaneously appeared in the shade-providing trees grown on coffee
plantations in the Puerto Rican highlands.
In 1956, Carlos G. Moscoso, from the Horticulture, Agricultural Extension Service of the University of Puerto Rico
noticed trees that grew fruits that were larger and a brighter yellow than those of the other trees on the plantations. Rootstock trials led to the development of the hybrid commonly known as the chironja.
Orangelos are often eaten in the same manner as grapefruit (cut in half and eaten with a spoon), but are sweeter and brighter in color than grapefruit, as well as being easier to peel.
Citrus
Citrus is a common term and genus of flowering plants in the rue family, Rutaceae. Citrus is believed to have originated in the part of Southeast Asia bordered by Northeastern India, Myanmar and the Yunnan province of China...
fruit believed to have originated in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. The fruit, a cross between a grapefruit
Grapefruit
The grapefruit , is a subtropical citrus tree known for its sour fruit, an 18th-century hybrid first bred in Barbados. When found, it was named the "forbidden fruit"; it has also been misidentified with the pomelo or shaddock , one of the parents of this hybrid, the other being sweet orange The...
and an orange
Orange (fruit)
An orange—specifically, the sweet orange—is the citrus Citrus × sinensis and its fruit. It is the most commonly grown tree fruit in the world....
, had spontaneously appeared in the shade-providing trees grown on coffee
Coffea
Coffea is a genus of flowering plants in the Rubiaceae family. They are shrubs or small trees native to tropical and southern Africa and tropical Asia. Seeds of several species are the source of the popular beverage coffee. Coffee ranks as one of the world's most valuable and widely traded...
plantations in the Puerto Rican highlands.
In 1956, Carlos G. Moscoso, from the Horticulture, Agricultural Extension Service of the University of Puerto Rico
University of Puerto Rico
The University of Puerto Rico is the state university system of Puerto Rico. The system consists of 11 campuses and has approximately 64,511 students and 5,300 faculty members...
noticed trees that grew fruits that were larger and a brighter yellow than those of the other trees on the plantations. Rootstock trials led to the development of the hybrid commonly known as the chironja.
Orangelos are often eaten in the same manner as grapefruit (cut in half and eaten with a spoon), but are sweeter and brighter in color than grapefruit, as well as being easier to peel.