ORANGE JUICE

'Orange juice' is a fruit juice obtained by squeezing, pressing or otherwise crushing the interior of an orange. It is enjoyed as a beverage in many parts of the world and is often commonly associated with breakfast. The largest exporter of orange juice is Brazil, followed by the United States (predominantly from Florida, where orange juice is the official state beverage).
Orange juice is commonly exported in dried form and infused in the destination country. Juice shipped in liquid form is traded as ''direct juice'' between producers. It is sold to consumers (in the U.S. and Canada), described as "not from concentrate."
One orange will typically produce about 90 grams of juice, and when freshly squeezed, orange juice has a fruity and, according to some, pleasantly acidic taste. Besides water and sugar, it is an excellent source of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and potassium. It is also an important natural source of folic acid (Vitamin B₉), which is recommended for women who are pregnant or may become pregnant.^[1] Some producers include additional citric acid or ascorbic acid in the juice beyond what is naturally found in oranges. Some also include other nutrients such as calcium and Vitamin D, not found naturally in oranges. Citrus juices also contain flavonoids that are believed to have beneficial health effects. However, if drunk on an empty stomach, orange juice can exacerbate present gastro-intestinal conditions, and/or cause mild and temporary stomach upset. Due to the citric acid, orange juice typically has a pH of 3.5. ^[2] Drinking, or sipping, orange juice over a long period of time can therefore potentially erode the tooth enamel.
Frozen Concentrated Orange Juice (FCOJ) is a commodity product traded on the major commodity exchanges, including the New York Board of Trade and the Brazilian Mercantile and Futures Exchange.
When water is added to freshly-unfrozen concentrated orange juice, it is ''reconstituted''. Most of orange juice sold today throughout the world is reconstituted juice. There is a huge difference in the volume of frozen concentrated orange juice and unprocessed juice and this makes a difference in the price the consumer is charged.
Orange juice containing pulp seems to be more nutritious than no-pulp varieties because of the flavonoids contained in the pulp.^[3]

Contents

Orange juice in popular culture

References

External links

Orange juice in popular culture

★ Singer Anita Bryant was a controversial spokeswoman for the Florida Citrus Commission; her anti-gay political campaigning led to a boycott of Florida orange juice.

★ In the film ''Fight Club'' the main character claims that homemade napalm can be made by combining equal parts of gasoline and frozen orange juice concentrate.

References

1. Folate (folic acid)
2. Acids
3. Is fruit juice as good as whole fruit

External links

★ How orange juice is made and its different types

★ Bottled Sunshine... A Juicy Story Brief film clip of orange juice processing from 1968. From the State Library & Archives of Florida.