On 5/26/2011 1:47 AM, Jim Elbrecht wrote:
> > wrote:
>
>> On 5/25/2011 8:49 AM, Jim Elbrecht wrote:
>>> Probably not the same-- but a couple years ago we could get [in NY] a
>>> rather ugly orange. The color was green/orange, the skin was kind of
>>> smooth, and they were smaller than most oranges, with lots of
>>> blemishes. I figured any orange that be *that* handicapped in the
>>> appearance department had to be pretty tasty to make its way to a NY
>>> market.
>>>
>>> I was right. Seems like there was 'honey' in the name, and these
>>> guys were sweet as honey. Only saw them for one season, though.
>>> Can't be everyone saw them the same way I did.
>>>
>>> Jim
>>
>> The Ka'u Gold company on the big island of Hawaii used to sell fruit of
>> that sort. The ugly fruit was called a Ka'u or Puna orange. These are
>> thin-skinned fruit with a pale flesh that tastes as you describe. I've
>> seen some with mottled brown skin. I'm familiar with the orange fruit
>> but you probably had a hybrid of an orange and tangerine. I don't
>> believe the company exists any longer - rampant thievery pretty much
>> spelled their end.
>>
>> http://archives.starbulletin.com/97/...es/story1.html
>
> Could be. They look like them-- and all the descriptions of the
> flavor I've sound- sound like them.
>
> Interesting that they showed up in a local chain in NY for one season.
> [maybe 2]
>
> I thought for a minute you thought I meant Ugli fruit-- I had my first
> one of them last week. They taste better than they look-- but the
> ones I had were pretty fibrous.
>
> Jim

Too bad fruit is sold mostly on appearances. These days I pick oranges
that match the characteristics of the Ka'u orange: smooth skin with
small pores and try to avoid thick, bumpy skins.

The Ugli fruit is similar to a Jabong. We used to have one of those
trees. I never cared for the stuff. Unfortunately, that tree would bear
a lot of fruit. :-)