Florida Hamlin Orange: A Squeezer’s Delight
Florida Hamlin oranges make up almost 50% of the Florida orange crop for a reason. These are super juice oranges! They are a bit smaller than the typical Navel and they probably will look a little rougher but when it comes to making fresh OJ they pack a punch and they really can’t be beat.
What makes the Hamlin particularly attractive is their relatively long harvest season of October through March. This means a lot of the crop can be picked before any potential frost assuring excellent juice potential. But even if it does get cold, the Hamlin trees hold up better than most and with a little care will keep on delivering. Having a season that long also assures a fairly steady supply which is good news if you are one of the thousands who “squeeze their own” each morning.
If you are one of those squeezers there are a couple of things you want to look for to get the best Hamlins for your morning quaff of sunshine.
As mentioned they are going to look a tad rough. They may have scuffs and even gouges that have healed over. These things make a pretty ugly centerpiece but that’s not what you buy them for is it. No, it’s the stuff inside the ugly covering that you want. That said, you want to avoid any peels that have a powdery light blue mold or a hard spot. What you want is an orange that looks like a baseball in size but weighs like a shot put. That’s going to be a super juicer.
The peel is fairly thin and you would have a difficult time trying to remove it by hand. Take a thin bladed knife and whack of a section from the bottom and the top so you can stand it on end on a cutting board. Now you can insert the knife between the peel and the flesh and cut away the peel. There will be some stubborn peel on the bottom so when you are almost done, just turn the orange upside down and attack the little pieces that are left.
Take the peeled fruit and slice down the white lines and flick the flesh into your juicer bowl. After you finish separating the flesh from the membrane, give the membrane a squeeze to get the last of the juice.
Now your going to notice that the juice looks a little thin. It tastes great but just doesn’t have the color you would like. Mix the juice of one tangerine to every four Hamlins and you’ll get the color and a little extra zing.
Yes it takes a little work but the results are so much better than concentrate or commercial “fresh squeezed”. If your into OJ then you have to give this Florida Hamlin orange a shot.
Taste the Sunshine with Hale Groves
At Hale Groves, we believe the best gifts come from the land, not a factory. For generations, our fruit has been grown slowly under the Florida sun, picked at its peak, and delivered fresh to your door. From sweet Navel Oranges to rare Honeybells, every gift shares the simple joy of real flavor—perfect for holidays, milestones, or everyday moments worth celebrating.
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