Why is Orange a Color and a Fruit?

According to the Wikipedia Listing for Orange The color is named after the orange fruit, came from the Spanish word naranja, which came from a Sanskrit word. Before being introduced into the english langue the color was referred to in Old English as geoluhread, which means yellow-red. The first recorded use of orange as a color name in English was in 1512, in the court of King Henry VIII.

It can be argued that actually the color of orange came with the first light so it came long before the fruit. The wave lengths of light that form the color we now know as orange came first. Basically the color existed in light before it was ever named. Once the the tree had grown and the fruit had ripened, the color name was formed as a description of the fruit.

In order to know why orange is a color and fruit we need to explore exactly what is Orange? Well first stop is Dictionary.com.

According to Dictionary.com Orange has nine results as follows:

Noun
1. A globose, reddish-yellow, bitter or sweet, edible citrus fruit.

2. Any white-flowered, evergreen citrus trees of the genus Citrus, bearing this fruit, as C. aurantium (bitter orange, Seville orange, or sour orange) and C. sinensis (sweet orange), cultivated in warm countries.

3. Any of several other citrus trees, as the trifoliate orange,.

4. Any of several trees or fruits resembling an orange.

5. A color between yellow and red in the spectrum, an effect of light with a wavelength between 590 and 610 nm; reddish yellow.

6. Art. a secondary color that has been formed by the mixture of red and yellow pigments.

Adjective

7. Of or pertaining to the orange.

8. Made or prepared with oranges or orange-like flavoring: orange sherbet.

9. Of the color orange; reddish-yellow.

Orange is said to combine the energy of red and the happiness of yellow. It can be associated with joy, sunshine, and the tropics. Orange represents enthusiasm, fascination, happiness, creativity, determination, attraction, success, encouragement, and stimulation.

To the average person, orange is a very hot color, so it gives the sensation of heat. Nevertheless, orange is not as aggressive as red. Orange increases oxygen supply to the brain, produces an invigorating effect, and stimulates mental activity. It is highly accepted among young people. As a citrus color, orange is associated with healthy food and stimulates appetite. Orange is the color of fall and harvest. In heraldry, orange is symbolic of strength and endurance.

Orange has very high visibility, so you can use it to catch attention and highlight the most important elements of your design. Orange is very effective for promoting food products and toys.

Sweet Orange
Citrus sinenis
Family: Rutaceae

Oranges are oval to sphere-shaped fruits with leathery, porous skin. Their color ranges from orange to red-orange. Oranges may be confused with other citrus fruits, such as grapefruits and tangerines. However, grapefruits are usually much larger and more yellow than oranges, and tangerines have a more flattened sphere shape than oranges.

Oranges are an essential ingredient in a lot of diets across the world, especially the American breakfast. However, its consumption directly as a fruit as well as in the juice form is not restricted to one country or one culture alone. The ease with which oranges grow in a variety of climatic conditions is one reason for the abundant usage of the fruit.

Oranges can be stored at room temperature, in the refrigerator without plastic bags or in the crisper drawer for up to 2 weeks. They do not ripen further after harvest. Fresh-squeezed juice and grated peel or zest may be refrigerated or frozen, but whole citrus fruit should not be frozen.

Oranges may exhibit some re-greening of the skin; this does not adversely affect internal fruit quality. Neither does surface scarring, which occurs when wind brushed young fruit against the tree.

Photograph: Spencer Jones/Getty http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2008/jun/02/week

Orange Doesn't Rhyme with Anything.

The fruit is technically a hesperidia, a kind of berry.

Dark orange can mean deceit and distrust.

Red-orange corresponds to desire, sexual passion, pleasure, domination, aggression, and thirst for action.

Drink a cool glass of orange juice for breakfast or serve orange halves instead of grapefruit for a change.

Combine the juice with other fruits and yogurt in the blender for a smoothie any time of day.

A couple of tablespoons of orange juice concentrate can be added to a fruit cup for a great flavorful sauce.

Buy a zesting tool or grate orange rind to use in recipes, rice, or stir fry for added flavor.

Carry an orange with you wherever you go, they come in their own covered container so you can just peel and eat orange segments whenever
the snack craze occurs.

Orange juice can be used over fresh fruits to prevent browning.

*photo credit Glenn Gibbs http://www.stanford.edu/~grg/photography/flowers.html

Sunkist Orange Caterpillar- For the Kids!

Cooking with kids can be fun but messy, so make sure they are prepared with the cute little apron set!

1 ripe banana, peeled
2 tsp. low fat peanut butter
Optional addition: pretzel sticks and grapes for antennas
1 as needed Sunkist® orange, washed, peeled, chopped and seeded

To make one portion:
Spread peanut butter on banana.
Line up orange segments along top of banana to make the body of the caterpillar. Add antennas if desired.
Slice segments to serve.
Makes 2 servings

Orange Chicken

What you will need:

4 units skinless boneless chicken breasts
4 Sunkist® oranges
1 unit jar orange marmalade
1 pinch of salt & pepper to taste

To make one portion:
Place chicken breasts on a cutting board, and cut a pocket in each breast.
Place 3 orange slices and a tablespoon of marmalade in the pocket of each breast.
Place the 4 chicken breasts in a 9" X 12" baking dish.
Place remaining orange slices and marmalade over the chicken breasts.
Sprinkle with salt & pepper.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes or until breasts are baked through.

Recipe developed by Edgar Mitch
Makes 4 servings

Cranberry Orange Muffins

You will need:

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
1 Tbsp. baking powder
¼ tsp. salt
½ cup chopped fresh or frozen cranberries
½ Sunkist® orange -grated peel
1 cup freshly squeezed Sunkist® orange cup of the sugar, baking powder, and salt.
Stir in the cranberries to lightly coat with the flour. Combine the orange peel, orange juice, oil, and egg; add to flour mixture all at once.
Stir quickly until flour mixture is just moistened but has a lumpy appearance. Spoon batter into 12 paper-lined 2-1/2 X 1-1/4-inch muffin cups, filling about three-quarters full.
Sprinkle the tops with the remaining 1 tablespoon of sugar. Bake at 400o F for 25 to 30 minutes.
Makes 12 servings