Ugli Fruit
By: Anonymous

About

Ugli(r) Fruit is a Jamaican tangelo which is a citrus fruit created by crossing a grapefruit and a tangerine. Ugli is pronounce "OOgli". The fruit is sometimes called a Uniq Fruit. The Ugli(r) Fruit's rind is thick, rough, bumpy, distorted and greenish-yellowish-orange. Inside the easy-to-peel, loose skin is a super-luscious, juicy and virtually seedless flesh. The flavor is refreshingly sweet with notes of mandarin and grapefruit. The Ugli(r) fruit is a citrus like no other! Look for them in your local produce department now (or request from you produce manger)!

Information
Other names: Uniq Fruit
Translations: Ugli Augļi, Ugli Vaisiai, Ugli Fructe, Voće iluzionis, Ugli trái cây, Ugli Owoce, Ugli फल, Ugli Frutas, Угли фрукты, Ugli Φρούτα, Ugli الفاكهة, Ugli 과일, Ugli Ovoce, Ugli Buah, 乌格利水果, Ugli Fruita, Ugli Sadje, Ugli Ovocie, Ugli Frutta, Ugli פרי, Ugli Frukt, Воће Угли, アグリーワグリーフルーツ, Ugli fruits, Ugli Frugt, Ugli Frukt, Ugli Fruta, Вугілля фрукти, Rumeliini Hedelmät, Грозен плодове


Physical Description
The skin is rough and wrinkled. It has a greenish tint that makes it look as though it may have gone bad.  The flesh is orange to deep-orange.  
Colors: Green, Yellow, Orange


Tasting Notes
Flavors: Sweet, Bitter, slightly tangy (early season fruit)
Mouthfeel: Juicy, Sweet, Ripe navel orange-y
Beverage complements: Rum, Sherry, Kirsch
Substitutes: Tangelo, Pommelo, Pomelo


Selecting and Buying
Seasonality: january, february, march, april, may, december
Peak: january, february, march, april
Choosing: When Ugli fruit are in stores, they're ripe, no matter what their color is.  You want to look for fruit that weighs more than it looks like it should and whose skin isn't bruised.
Buying: Ugli fruit are in season from December to May, though their peak season is from January to April, with some occasionally being in store from July to September.  Ugli fruit are available in chain-stores and supermarkets, as well as specialty fruit sellers and from wholesalers.  
Procuring: Ugli fruit are grown mainly in Jamaica for exportation to the U.S., Scandanavia, Canada, and Europe.
Trees are as hardy as most citrus, though they do best in areas with little to no frost.  Ugli fruit are native to Jamaica.
The trees are bushy and range from 15 - 20 feet in height.  Their leaves are evergreen, bright and almost glossy.  The fruit hangs in clusters of 6 - 12, and can hang on the tree for several weeks after ripening. 


Preparation and Use

Cleaning: Wash whole fruit before putting them away after buying themt.  After  that, treat them as you would most other fresh citrus.


Social/Political

History: The Ugli fruit was discovered in 1924 growing wild in Jamaica and was believed at the time to be a cross between a Seville orange, grapefruit and tengerine trees.  Since that time the hybrid has been improved for flavor and texture.  Though it is still largely grown in Jamaica and exported to various countries around the world.