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A blood orange is a sweet orange, the same species as an everyday navel or Valencia orange, whose flesh and sometimes rind turn deep red or maroon. The color comes from anthocyanins, the same family of pigments found in red and purple berries, and it depends on cold: research shows blood oranges need cool temperatures to color fully. Blood oranges are eaten and juiced like other oranges. The USDA SR Legacy database has no separate blood orange entry, so this guide uses labeled orange entries as the nearest stand-in, then covers blood orange vs orange, what the small juice trials found, and the medicine and allergy facts worth knowing.
Peptide Labs does not sell blood oranges or blood orange products. This article is general food information, not medical advice.
Key Takeaways
- Blood oranges are sweet oranges (Citrus sinensis) with red flesh from anthocyanin pigments.
- A 2012 Plant Cell study traced the color to a gene switch called Ruby that is turned on by cold.
- USDA SR Legacy has no blood orange entry; regular orange entries are the nearest labeled stand-in.
- Two small juice trials gave mixed results: one found no change in cholesterol or glucose markers, another found a change in a blood vessel measure.
- FDA's grapefruit warning names Seville (sour) oranges, not blood oranges, but some medicines should not be taken with any fruit juice.
What is a blood orange?
Blood oranges are varieties of Citrus sinensis, the sweet orange. From the outside many look like a regular orange, sometimes with a red blush on the rind. Inside, the flesh ranges from orange streaked with red to deep crimson. A 2022 review in Molecules explains that the red color of the flesh and rind is due to anthocyanins and notes that anthocyanins in citrus were first reported in 1916. The most studied blood oranges come from Sicily, and named varieties such as Tarocco appear in plant research on how the color forms.
Why blood oranges turn red: anthocyanins and cold
In 2012, researchers publishing in The Plant Cell found that the Sicilian blood orange arose when a mobile piece of DNA, a retrotransposon, landed next to a gene called Ruby. Ruby switches on anthocyanin production. The inserted DNA responds to stress such as cold, which is why blood oranges color fully only when they get cool temperatures, and why the authors describe production as unreliable in warmer places. A blood orange of Chinese origin turned out to have its own, separate insertion of a similar retrotransposon, and it also needs cold to color.
The same cold dependence continues after harvest. A 2023 review in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition notes that cool storage can raise anthocyanin levels in blood oranges, but that very low temperatures can cause chilling injury to the fruit. In practice, this is why two blood oranges can look very different inside: color varies with variety, growing climate and storage. A pale one is still a blood orange; it simply made less pigment.
Blood orange nutrients: what USDA lists
USDA SR Legacy has no separate entry for blood oranges (we searched it for blood, Moro, Tarocco, Sanguinello and pigmented). Because a blood orange is a sweet orange, the nearest labeled entries are the raw orange entries below. These are values for regular oranges, not measured blood orange values, and SR Legacy lists no anthocyanins for them. Percent Daily Values use the FDA Daily Values.
| USDA SR Legacy entry | Serving | Calories | Fiber | Vitamin C | Folate | Potassium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oranges, raw, all commercial varieties (FDC 169097) | 1 fruit, 131 g | 62 | 3.1 g (11%) | 70 mg (77%) | 39 mcg DFE (10%) | 237 mg (5%) |
| Oranges, raw, navels (FDC 169917) | 1 fruit, 140 g | 69 | 3.1 g (11%) | 83 mg (92%) | 48 mcg DFE (12%) | 232 mg (5%) |
| Oranges, raw, California, valencias (FDC 169916) | 1 fruit, 121 g | 59 | 3.0 g (11%) | 59 mg (65%) | 47 mcg DFE (12%) | 217 mg (5%) |
| Orange juice, raw (FDC 169098) | 1 cup, 248 g | 112 | 0.5 g (2%) | 124 mg (138%) | 74 mcg DFE (19%) | 496 mg (11%) |
| Blood orange | Not in SR Legacy | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
The pattern is the familiar one for oranges: a whole fruit brings vitamin C, some fiber, folate and potassium, while juice keeps the vitamin C and loses most of the fiber. Our oranges guide compares juice and whole fruit in detail, our guide to vitamin C sources puts oranges next to other foods, and our fiber-rich foods guide shows where whole citrus fits.
Blood orange vs orange
| Feature | Blood orange | Common orange (navel, Valencia) |
|---|---|---|
| Species | Citrus sinensis | Citrus sinensis |
| Flesh color | Streaked red to deep crimson | Orange |
| Red pigment | Anthocyanins | None |
| Needs cold to color | Yes | Not applicable |
| USDA SR Legacy entry | None | Yes (FDC 169917, 169916) |
| Named in FDA grapefruit warning | No | No |
So the blood orange vs orange question mostly comes down to pigment and flavor, not a different fruit. Both are sweet oranges; the blood orange adds anthocyanins when it gets enough cold, and taste varies by variety and ripeness. If you like comparing citrus, see our guides to tangerines, clementines and grapefruit, and our sibling guide to yuzu, a sour, aromatic citrus from East Asia.
Are blood oranges healthy? What the juice trials found
Blood oranges are oranges, so they bring the vitamin C, fiber and potassium shown above. Their extra feature is anthocyanins, which are often grouped with other colorful plant compounds in roundups of antioxidant-rich foods, alongside fruits like blueberries and cherries. Whether those pigments do anything measurable when people drink blood orange juice has been tested only in small, short trials:
- A 2018 randomized crossover trial in the British Journal of Nutrition had 41 adults with a large waist measurement drink blood orange juice or regular (blonde) orange juice for 28 days each. There were no significant differences in cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, CRP, blood pressure or arterial stiffness. The authors suggested the juice may not have had enough anthocyanins to matter.
- A 2020 randomized crossover trial in The Journal of Nutrition had 15 adults with overweight or obesity drink blood orange juice or a sugar-matched drink for 2 weeks each. Flow-mediated dilation, a measure of how well blood vessels widen, rose after the juice; blood pressure, blood lipids and inflammation markers did not change.
Two trials, with 41 and 15 people and a few weeks each, cannot show a lasting health effect, and they point in different directions. A fair summary is that blood oranges are a colorful way to eat an orange, not a proven step up from one. Blood orange juice, like any juice, has the sugars of the fruit with little fiber, so the whole fruit is the more filling choice, and our guide to fruit sugar levels compares many fruits.
Safety: medicines, allergy and juice labels
The FDA’s grapefruit page explains that grapefruit juice can change how some medicines work, and it adds that Seville oranges, pomelos and tangelos might have the same effect. Seville oranges are sour (bitter) oranges, covered in our bitter orange guide; blood oranges are sweet oranges and are not named. The same FDA page notes one broader point: the allergy medicine fexofenadine may not work as well when taken with grapefruit, orange or apple juice, and its label says not to take it with fruit juices. Blood orange juice is orange juice, so that label advice applies. When in doubt, ask your pharmacist.
- Allergy: citrus is not one of the nine major food allergens under US law, but citrus allergy exists; see an allergist if you react to oranges.
- Bottled juice and sodas: check the label for added sugars and for whether the product contains real blood orange juice or only flavoring.
- Acidity: orange juice is acidic; people with reflux may notice it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a blood orange?
A blood orange is a sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) whose flesh turns red because of anthocyanin pigments that form when the fruit gets cold.
Why are some blood oranges barely red inside?
Color depends on variety, climate and storage. Blood oranges need cool temperatures to make anthocyanins, so fruit grown in warmer conditions can be paler.
Are blood oranges healthier than regular oranges?
They have the same basic profile plus anthocyanins. A 28-day trial found no differences in cholesterol or glucose markers between blood and regular orange juice.
Is a blood orange a cross between an orange and a grapefruit?
No. Research shows the red color comes from a change near a gene called Ruby in the sweet orange itself, not from crossing with grapefruit.
Is blood orange on the FDA grapefruit warning list?
The FDA warning names grapefruit, Seville oranges, pomelos and tangelos, not blood oranges. Some medicines, like fexofenadine, should not be taken with any fruit juice; follow the label.
How do I know if a blood orange is ripe?
Pick fruit that feels heavy for its size and firm with no soft spots. The rind blush does not always match the flesh color.
Questions about a label? Contact us or read our Buyer’s Guide. Food comes first; follow the label and ask a healthcare provider before starting a supplement, especially if you take medicines, are pregnant or have a food allergy. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Last reviewed October 2026.
Related guides: Yuzu: What Is Yuzu Fruit, Juice Uses and Yuzu vs Lemon, Oranges: Nutrition Facts, Benefits and Juice vs Whole Fruit, Foods High in Vitamin C: USDA List of Fruits and Vegetables.