If you’re curious about ugli fruit but unsure how to eat it or what it tastes like, this guide is perfect for you. I’ve shared important tips on where it comes from, how to pick it, why you should try it, and more.
Part of my love for food is trying out new and unique produce. I’ve tried many fun, less common vegetables and fruits, like pepino melons, egg fruit, and loquats. But today, I’m all about ugli fruit.
The name is not very appealing, but the flavor sure is! This wonderful, admittedly ugly-looking citrus fruit is great for snacking, salads, and more. But before you go out hunting for your own, learn everything you need about how to pick one, what it tastes like, and where to buy it.
What is an Ugli Fruit?
Ugli fruit, also called uniq fruit or the Jamaican tangelo, is a natural citrus hybrid of tangerine, orange, and grapefruit discovered in Jamaica in the early 1920s.
As its popularity spread around the globe, it reportedly earned its common name from a trader who said something like, ‘More of that ugly fruit!’
The teardrop-shaped fruit is larger than a grapefruit and has a rough, bumpy, greenish-yellow rind that’s often discolored or marred. It sits loosely around the inside, a segmented pale pinkish-orange pulpy flesh that contains fewer seeds than typical citrus.
Nutritional Benefits
Eating any kind of citrus is good for providing your body with vitamin C, and if you look into the nutritional value of ugli fruit, one serving contains half your day’s worth.
In addition to an immunity boost, it’s also a low-calorie food that contains tons of antioxidants, which are key to your body’s ability to fight disease and much more.
What Does it Taste Like?
As a hybrid of three different citrus fruits, it’s only reasonable that the flavor should be a blend, too. Ugli fruit is more sour than an orange but sweeter than a grapefruit, without the bitterness.
The sour-sweet flavor leads many people to think it’s a lemon and orange hybrid instead.
When and Where to Buy Ugli Fruit
Uniq fruit is less common than your typical citrus, so it may be harder to find year-round. But growing popularity means it’s possible to find it at many mainstream grocery stores when it’s in season. Keep an eye out from mid-winter to early spring.
If you have no luck at the supermarket, try checking in with the citrus growers at your farmer’s market or online for where they might be available in your region.
Selection and Storage
When you find them, you must pick them correctly for the best flavor. Since it’s naturally pretty ugly, you don’t need to focus too much on the exterior appearance, even if pitting or brown marks exist.
Instead, look at the top and bottom. Neither should be dried out or mushy and black. Pick it up and see if it feels heavy for its size. If it does, then give it a very gentle squeeze. It should have some give but not be very soft or squishy.
Store them on the counter for 5 days or in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
How to Eat Ugli Fruit
If nothing else convinces you to try ugli fruit, this will – they’re effortless to eat. No special preparation is required. The peel is typically so loose around the fruit inside that it’s easier to peel than an orange, and there aren’t even a bunch of seeds to worry about, either.
Once peeled, you can easily separate it into segments and eat it as is. You can also add those pieces to salads, smoothies, juices, and more. Feel free to use it as a substitute for orange in any recipe to figure out how you like it best.
I hope you love trying the unique and ugly uniq fruit. Check out some of my citrus-forward recipes below for inspiration on how to use them in your cooking.
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