Late December Citrus

Today I found a variety of ripe, or almost ripe citrus fruits in the yard. I'll describe here my tasting results on some oranges, mandarins, grapefruits, and lemons. The pictures and tasting are all from December 31, 2017.

Navels and Tangor

Left to right: Early Navel, Washington Navel, and Kiyomi Tangor

All these are ripe, but Kiyomi Tangor may benefit from couple weeks more on the tree. This tangor is the most juicy and the least sweet out of these.  Washington Navel has the most complex flavor, but I should note that it comes from the oldest (out of these three) graft.

Pigmented oranges

Left to right: Moro blood orange, Boukhobza blood orange, and Vaniglia Sanguino.

Moro needs a week or two more on the tree, Boukhobza is pretty good already, but should be even better and more colorful in couple of weeks.  Vaniglia Sanguino is sweet and juicy, and I suspect it is at the peak of flavor now.  It is an acid-less orange. 

Mandarins

Left to right:  USDA 6-15-150, Daisy SL, Page, and Algerian Clementine

All four varieties are fully ripe now.  Daisy SL is my favorite.  Page and USDA 6-15-150 are pretty good too.  Algerian Clementine is the most acidic, but has a nice complex flavor.  It's also very juicy, along with the USDA 6-15-150.

Grapefruits

Red and Cocktail.

The Red is not ready, may need 3-4 more weeks on the tree.  The Cocktail is perfect, very juicy and sweet.

Lemons

Lisbon (left) and my unknown lemon.

They are pretty sour and juicy.  I assume they are ripe.  The unknown has thinner peal, but does not pass for Meyer, as it is too sour.

I'm planning to re-taste many of these in mid-January again.

Mid-December citrus

These are the earliest citrus fruits in the yard. The exception is Corsica #2 that was all consumed by now.  The pictures and tasting are from December 13, 2017.

Mandarines

Left to right: USDA 6-15-150, Daisy SL, Page, Algerian Clementine

By this date, Daisy SL and Page have developed the flavor well, but USDA 6-15-150 and Algerian Clementine need more time on the tree. Maybe couple of weeks more.

In the order of my preference at this date, Dec 13:
1. Daisy SL
2. Page
3. USDA 6-15-150
4. Algerian Clementine

Oranges

Top row, left to right: Early Navel, Washington Navel, Boukhobza Blood Orange
Bottom row, left to right: Vaniglia Sanguine, Moro Blood Orange

All these oranges will benefit from more time on the trees.  Vaniglia Sanguine is the best out of this set, as it is an acidless orange.  Early Navel is almost ready. The other three fruits need more time on the trees.  Here they are in the order of my preference at this date, Dec 13:

1. Vaniglia Sanguine
2. Early Navel
3. Washington Navel
4. Boukhobza Blood Orange
5. Moro Blood Orange

Grapefruit

Cocktail grapefruit with Nagami kumquat for comparison

This might be the best grapefruit ever. Very sweet and juicy at this date, Dec 13.

Pink Fleshed Eureka lemon and Buddha's Hand Citron 

The lemon tastes like a regular sour lemon, and I'm still trying to figure out how I'm going to use the Buddha's Hand citron.  They both are fully ripe now.