With so many kinds of citrus available, it is sometimes hard to choose. We can't tell what something tastes like just by looking at it. Here is the lowdown on some of the less common kinds. All of these aren't necessarily available in supermarkets. You may have to visit farmers' markets or specialty shops. Typically the specialty citrus are also a great choice for dooryard gardens and home orchards.

Citron is a very unusual kind of citrus. First of all, it is the only deciduous one for all the others are evergreen. This is grown commercially to a limited degree in California and Florida. This unusual fruit consists mostly of peel or rind, which is candied.
Tangors are often available in specialty shops. The tangor is really a hybrid of the tangerine and the orange. The most typical tangor is what we call the Temple orange, which isn't really an orange at all. The Temple is grown in the U.S. They are easy to peel, and contain lots of seeds. The taste is similar to that of an orange. The Temple was introduced from Jamaica at the end of the 1800's. Grown mostly in Florida, these resemble a rather large mandarin. Peeling very easy, they are sweet, juicy, and tender.

The Trifoliate orange is related to the orange, but is actually in a different genus. Very hardy, this thorny tree is deciduous. It can be grown as far north as Washington, D.C. The sour fruits aren't always available in the U.S. Elsewhere, they are the basis of marmalades and flavorings. Basically, in America the tree is used as a hedge plant and for rootstock for creating dwarf forms of citrus.

The Ugli fruit or Uniq fruit is usually available in stores. Native to Jamaica, this was first found in the wild in 1914. The tree is a natural hybrid of the tangerine and the grapefruit. Very large, the fruits are typically at least six inches across. It basically looks like a grapefruit, but the skin is thicker and looser.

The shaddock or pomelo is about the largest of the citrus fruits you will find, reaching about the size of a basketball. These were originally native to the Asia, and were brought to the Caribbean during the late 1700's. Some believe this was the ancestor of the grapefruit. The oversized fruit has a very thick rind with a minimal amount of pulp, which is pink or red. Because the shaddock has a somewhat bitter flavor, it is usually candied. This is grown to a limited extent in Florida and California.

Bergamot is a rather uncommon citrus. Unlike most other citrus trees, the fruit along with the flowers and leaves are the source of essential oils, which are used for soaps and perfumes. Originally native to China, this evergreen is best known for its fragrant white blooms. It is very sensitive to cold.

The sour orange isn't commonly grown commercially in the U.S., but is a suitable choice for dooryard plants. Used mainly as a flavoring, this is a favorite in Spanish cuisine. It is also known as the bitter orange or the Seville orange. The large, seedy fruits have very thick skins. They're used for marmalades and drinks.

There are several other specialty oranges that are sometimes available. The Blood orange is noted for its blood red pulp. This is grown in California. The flavor is similar to that of a sweet orange with a suggestion of other fruits, such as strawberries and raspberries.

The Chinese navel is a specialty fruit that is grown mostly in the state of California. This very sweet fruit is extremely low acid.

The Jaffa orange is grown mostly in the West, including Arizona, Texas, and California. The very sweet fruit is easy to peel, and is extremely juicy.

Calamondin is grown commercially only in Florida, California, and Arizona. The fruits taste like sour oranges. They have a smooth, thin rind. There is some disagreement as to how this plant should be classified. Some say it belongs with the mandarin orange group, while others say it is a hybrid of the kumquat and a sour mandarin.

Though kumquats aren't in the same genus as true citrus, this relative is used the same way. Native to Asia, kumquats are one of the few citrus fruits with edible peels. These fruits are sweet and juicy, and are often eaten fresh. They're usually two inches or less in length.

When kumquat trees are crossed with the lime, the result is known as the limequat. The resulting fruits are used for drinks, garnishes, and marmalades.

The citrange is considered to be a hybrid of the Trifoliate orange and the sweet orange. Typically, their fruits are too tart for eating. However, they're used for drinks and marmalades .