The blood orange generally is sweeter than its orange cousins, with a slight raspberry aftertaste. It can be enjoyed as any other orange, for its juice, or in fruit salads, or as a garnish for desserts, but its high price dictates that it should be reserved for special occasions. The blood orange is generally about the same size as a Florida juice orange (about the size of a tennis ball), though it has none of the green streaks common to juice oranges. Blood oranges are generally seedless, or close to it, and may outwardly range from bright orange to orange with red areas.
The blood orange is a variety of orange (Citrus sinensis) with crimson, blood-colored flesh. The fruit ranges from small- to medium-sized; its skin is usually pitted but can be smooth. Blood oranges owe their distinctive appearance to a pigment called anthocyanin not typically found in citrus, but common in other red fruits and flowers.