Jaffa Orange

Originally developed by Arab farmers, Jaffa orange is an Israeli orange variety grown in the Middle East and the Mediterranean. The orange is believed to have been developed through a mutation of the baladi orange variety back in the mid-19th century near Jaffa, an ancient Palestinian port city that soon became the main center of production and export of the fruit, thereby lending it its name.

Also known as shamouti orange or Jaffa shamouti orange, the fruit is oval-shaped with a thick skin that surrounds the sweet and moderately juicy flesh. This orange contains only a few seeds and is highly appreciated for its tough, yet easy-to-peel skin which gives the fruit its long shelf life.

Although it’s nowadays associated with Israel, the production and export of Jaffa oranges actually predate the country’s creation, and they used to be the pride of Palestine. The oranges are typically enjoyed fresh or used in various sweet or savory dishes, and they’re not usually used for juice production because of their low juice content.