Edible Sunshine

Sunshine on a Winter Landscape

Citrus harvests bring bright spots to the market in the cold of winter. The warm hues of yellows, oranges, and greens are like splashes of sunshine across the less colorful landscape of the colder months. The bright, tangy flavors of the fruit add excitement to heavier winter dishes and their citrus essences create fruity back-notes to sweets and savories alike.

No time to zest? Adding the spritely flavors of citrus across your winter palate is easy with vomFASS Orange, Tangerine, and Lemon Extra Virgin Olive Oils and our Calamansi Balsam Vinegar, Calamansi-Elderflower Shrub, and Winter Orange Balsam Star. Our Orange, Pink Grapefruit and Tangerine Liqueurs bring citrusy vibes as aperitifs, digestifs and cocktails. Try the recipes below (or online) to perk up your recipes and add more depth and complexity to your roasted vegetables, roasted or grilled meats or tofu, grain bowls, soups, salads, baked goods, or spirits this weekend!

The Citrus Top 1%

Today, across the US, we get most of our oranges and grapefruits from Florida, our lemons from California, and our limes from Mexico. However, while the specific origin(s) of citrus is still a matter of scientific contention, most agree citrus originated in what is now the Himalayan area of northern India. All the oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruits you’ve ever eaten are descendants from just a few ancient species. Today’s global citrus diversity emanates from citrons, pomelos, and mandarins, which prefer tropic and subtropic climates.

Fossilized leaves discovered in China’s Yunnan Province suggest citrus existed since as long as seven million years ago. Almost all citrus has the rare genetic combination of being sexually compatible and highly prone to mutation. Such traits have allowed their genes to mix, for thousands of years on their own, and eventually, at the hands of humans. Grapefruits are a human discovery less that 300 years old. Out of thousands of wild types, only a few dozen have become commercial behemoths like the navel orange, Eureka lemon, and Mexican lime. They’re the citrus one percenters. 

Perfect Antidote

The bright and uplifting aroma of citrus fruits has been shown to have mood-boosting effects, helping to combat the winter blues and lift spirits during the colder months. Citrus infusions inspire culinary creativity and experimentation in the kitchen.

Whether it's adding a squeeze of lemon to a hearty soup, a splash of vomFASS Orange Extra Virgin Olive Oil over roasted vegetables, or incorporating lime into a tangy salsa, citrus fruits offer endless possibilities for enhancing winter cuisine. They breathe a burst of sunshine and vitality into dishes, brightening both the palate and the spirit. Citrus can be incorporated into marinades, dressings, sauces, desserts, beverages, and more.

We invite you to come to our vomFASS Madison tasting room and test drive some our delicious vomFASS citrus products this weekend! Please bring your bottles clean and dry for a calamansi fill up and special savings.

Crab and Tangerine Frisée

Easy Roasted Beets and Sweets L'Orange