As global leaders in all things fruit ingredients, our vast network of partners and suppliers allows us to source a huge selection of fruits in nearly every format. Looking for something specific? We can help.

Blood Orange

Our customers use blood orange because of its distinctive flavor, vibrant color, and strong visual and nutritional appeal. Blood oranges have a unique sweet yet slightly tart taste with berry-like notes, which helps create more complex and premium flavor profiles in beverages, desserts, and sauces. Their deep red color, caused by anthocyanins, makes them especially valuable as a natural coloring ingredient while enhancing product appearance. Blood oranges are also rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, supporting health-focused marketing claims. They are commonly processed into juices, concentrates, and extracts, which improve shelf life and consistency for large-scale production. Overall, blood orange allows manufacturers to develop visually striking, flavorful, and premium-positioned products that stand out in the market.

Brothers International is proud to offer various fruit juices and concentrates as USDA Organic certified.

Blood Orange can be supplied as organic upon request

Available From

Our Blood Orange is sourced from the earth's prime growing regions. Contact us to learn more.

Available As

• Blood Orange NFC Juice
• Blood Orange Juice Concentrate
• Blood Orange Oil

Harvest Seasons

Blood Oranges grow in the Northern hemisphere from December to February.

Request a Sample of Blood Orange
Botanical: Citrus x Sinensis

A Fruit Shaped by the Cold

Blood oranges are a distinctive variety of orange characterized by their deep red or maroon-colored flesh, which develops due to natural pigments called anthocyanins. Blood oranges are often processed into blood orange NFC juice and blood orange oil is extracted from the peel. They are believed to have originated in the Mediterranean region, particularly in Italy and Spain, and grow best in climates with warm days and cool nights. The fruit has a similar size and outer appearance to a regular orange, though the skin may show reddish tones. Blood oranges are typically in season during the winter months and are valued for their unique coloration and slightly berry-like flavor profile.
The blood orange (Citrus sinensis) is a distinct natural mutation of the sweet orange, world-renowned for its striking ruby-to-crimson flesh, complex berry-like flavor accents, and vibrant citrus aromatics. Unlike standard sweet oranges—whose orange coloration is derived entirely from carotenoids—blood oranges synthesize high concentrations of anthocyanins (principally cyanidin-3-glucoside). This water-soluble polyphenol pigment imparts a signature deep red hue, potent antioxidant properties, and subtle notes reminiscent of fresh raspberries and dark cherries.
In commercial fruit ingredient processing, cultivar selection dictates color density, acid balance, and aromatic intensity:

  • Moro: The commercial benchmark for deep color density. Moro oranges feature dark violet-crimson flesh, high natural acidity, and a bold, tart flavor profile with distinct raspberry notes. It is the primary processing variety for high-color blood orange NFC juice, blood orange juice concentrate, and vibrant beverage bases.

  • Tarocco: Widely considered the finest eating and juicing variety. Tarocco oranges offer exceptionally high Vitamin C levels, low titratable acidity, and a sweet, delicate floral-berry profile with a soft ruby blush. Tarocco blood orange NFC juice is highly sought after for premium 100% juice blends, craft cocktails, and artisanal sodas.

  • Sanguinello: A late-ripening Mediterranean cultivar offering a compact red-mottled flesh, balanced Brix-to-acid ratio, and smooth, sweet-tart juice. Excellent for all-around juice concentration and craft brewing preps.

Brothers International partners with origin processors who utilize low-pressure inline citrus extractors to cleanly separate the juice cells from the bitter inner albedo membrane while simultaneously capturing the essential oils from the outer peel (flavedo).

Global Sourcing Through the Brothers International Network:
Blood orange trees require very specific Mediterranean microclimates characterized by warm, sunny days and cool, crisp night temperatures during fruit maturation to trigger natural anthocyanin synthesis. Because blood orange cultivation is concentrated in specialized geographical pockets, establishing a resilient, multi-origin footprint is critical for continuous industrial supply. Brothers International connects North American procurement teams to premier global growing belts through our audited network of supplier partners.

We source high-grade blood orange ingredients from leading agricultural regions:

  • Italy (Sicily): The historic epicenter of world blood orange production. The volcanic plains surrounding Mount Etna in eastern Sicily provide the ultimate microclimate for Moro, Tarocco, and Sanguinello cultivars, yielding world-class blood orange NFC juice, clarified concentrates, and fragrant cold-pressed oils.

  • Europe (Spain): The Valencia and Murcia regions provide massive processing capacity for Moro and Sanguinello varieties, supplying clean-label European blood orange NFC juice and concentrates with strict regulatory compliance.

  • North America (United States): California’s San Joaquin Valley and inland coastal belts supply domestic Moro and Tarocco NFC juices, specialty organic formats, and cold-pressed essential oils with short freight lead times.

  • Southern Hemisphere (South Africa): Delivers vital counter-seasonal processing capacity, supplying fresh-crop blood orange concentrates and oils during the Northern Hemisphere’s summer months.

By coordinating supply across Italy, Spain, California, and South Africa, Brothers International insulates your manufacturing operations against localized frost events, regional crop shortfalls, and ocean freight volatility.

Harvest Cycles & Continuous Supply Management:
In the Northern Hemisphere (Sicily, Spain, California), the blood orange harvest is seasonal, running from December through April, with peak anthocyanin accumulation occurring in mid-winter. In the Southern Hemisphere (South Africa), harvesting occurs counter-seasonally from June through October.

Managing these compressed processing windows and coordinating international shipping lanes is a core competency of Brothers International. Our operations and logistics teams oversee multi-quarter inventory allocations, cold-chain maritime transport, USDA/FDA import clearances, C-TPAT supply chain security, and strategic warehousing across North America. Whether your facility requires frozen pails of Moro NFC juice, chilled drums of 65° Brix concentrate, or aluminum drums of cold-pressed oil, our network guarantees ready inventory year-round.

Rigorous Quality Control, Traceability & Compliance:
Processing blood orange ingredients demands precise thermal and pH management to protect heat-sensitive anthocyanin pigments from turning brown or degrading. Every supplier within the Brothers International network undergoes a comprehensive auditing process to guarantee complete supply chain traceability, sustainable agricultural practices, fair labor standards, and strict compliance with USDA, FDA, and international food safety standards.

Through our network, we deliver blood orange ingredients backed by complete technical documentation and top-tier industry certifications, including GFSI benchmarks (BRC, SQF, FSSC 22000), USDA Organic (NOP), Kosher, Non-GMO, and Halal standards. Our quality assurance protocols include High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) screening for anthocyanin quantification, pesticide residue screening, heavy metal testing, microbial validation, titratable acidity, peel oil percentage, and Brix adherence under FDA 21 CFR § 101.30.

The Brothers International

Quality Promise

Brothers International and its 4 divisions, Brothers Ingredients, Dennick Fruit Source, Hosh International and Food Partners, are trusted global importers of premium ingredients to major food and beverage manufacturers in North America. We deliver consistent quality and supply across every format the industry demands. Our Blood Orange is sourced from the earth’s prime growing regions where farming expertise, climate and soil composition come together to produce Blood Orange of exceptional caliber. All of our suppliers undergo a rigorous vetting process to ensure we work with only the highest-quality processors and can fully guarantee traceability, sustainability, and compliance with all international regulations.

Each of our divisions has a specialized operations team to manage shipments and coordinate with customers and suppliers. They work closely with our in-house customs team to ensure efficient clearance, and collaborate with the USDA and FDA to maintain full regulatory compliance. This ensures your ingredients move seamlessly through every stage of import, arriving on time and ready for production with complete confidence. With decades of sourcing expertise and a strong commitment to customer success, you can count on Brothers International to deliver the premium ingredients your products require.

Brothers International is your source for blood orange NFC juice, blood orange juice concentrate and blood orange oil derived from the peel.
All the information you need to navigate the fruit ingredient buying process.

Industry Glossary

A Reference Guide for Fruit Ingredient Terminology

Check out our glossary for a consolidated reference of commonly used terminology across the global fruit ingredient industry. It provides straightforward definitions and context for the language and concepts referenced throughout the industry.

Blood Orange NFC Juice, Blood Orange Juice Concentrate

Additional Facts and Questions About Blood Orange Ingredients

As fruit ingredient experts, we can work with manufacturers to provide nearly any specification of blood orange juice concentrate and blood orange NFC juice – contact our team to get started. The table below represents a handful of the most common brix levels and concentration.

Target Brix / Spec Approx. Concentration Product Format Why Manufacturers Choose It & Applications
60° – 65° Brix ~5.08-Fold to 5.51-Fold Blood Orange Juice Concentrate (Cloudy or Clarified) High Yield & Intense Crimson Color. Thermally concentrated under low-temperature vacuum to preserve natural anthocyanins and citric acidity while reducing freight costs. Available cloudy (retaining pulp cells) or clarified. Essential for hard seltzers, RTD cocktails, gummies, and beverage bases.
11.8° – 13.0° Brix 1-Fold (1:1) Single Strength / NFC Blood Orange Juice (Moro or Tarocco) Baseline standard (FDA 100% single-strength at 11.8° Brix). Direct-pressed juice retaining fresh harvest berry-citrus aromatics, natural cloud, and vivid crimson or ruby-orange color. Preferred for clean-label 100% juice blends, craft sodas, and artisanal cocktails.
100% Essential Oil Pure Cold-Pressed Oil Cold-Pressed Blood Orange Peel Oil 100% Pure Citrus & Berry Aromatics. Cold-expressed mechanically from the flavedo peel. Rich in d-limonene and aliphatic aldehydes, offering a distinctly warmer, fruitier aromatic profile than standard sweet orange oil. Used by flavor houses, distillers, and confectioners.

The unique crimson color and subtle raspberry-like flavor of blood oranges are driven by natural anthocyanins (principally cyanidin-3-glucoside). While standard sweet orange color comes from lipid-soluble carotenoids, blood oranges produce water-soluble anthocyanin pigments when fruit matures under dramatic diurnal temperature shifts (warm days and near-freezing nights, typical of Mount Etna in Sicily). Anthocyanins impart a distinct berry-citrus flavor complexity and powerful natural antioxidant properties.

  • Moro: Features dark violet-red flesh, high titratable acidity, and intense raspberry top notes. Moro blood orange NFC juice and concentrates are chosen when maximum natural crimson-purple color and bold tartness are required for beverages, seltzers, or craft beers.

  • Tarocco: Features a lighter ruby blush, exceptionally high natural Vitamin C, higher Brix-to-acid ratio, and a sweet, floral flavor profile. Tarocco blood orange NFC juice is preferred for premium 100% juice blends, artisanal RTD teas, and delicate cocktail mixers where smooth sweetness is desired over sharp acidity.

According to FDA regulations under 21 CFR § 101.30, the single-strength standard for 100% orange juice (including blood orange) is 11.8° Brix.

  • To reconstitute 60° Brix Concentrate: Mix 1 part concentrate with 4.08 parts water by weight (dilution ratio ~4.08:1).

  • To reconstitute 65° Brix Concentrate: Mix 1 part concentrate with 4.51 parts water by weight (dilution ratio ~4.51:1).

Cold-Pressed Blood Orange Oil is a 100% pure essential oil mechanically expressed from the outer peel (flavedo) during juice extraction. While standard sweet orange oil is dominated by bright, single-note citrus terpenes, blood orange peel oil contains a unique blend of aliphatic aldehydes and esters that impart a distinctly warmer, richer, fruitier aroma with subtle dark-berry undertones. Flavor chemists, craft distillers (gins, aperitifs), and beverage formulators use blood orange oil to deliver complex, high-impact aromatic top notes without adding liquid volume, sugar, or acidity.

  • Beverages & Craft Brewing: Blood orange NFC juice is a foundational flavor driver for RTD hard seltzers, Italian-style sparkling sodas, craft cocktails (Blood Orange Margaritas/Palomas), kombucha, and craft beers (especially citrus IPAs, wheat beers, Goses, and fruited sours).

  • Confectionery & Bakery: Blood orange oil and concentrates are essential for gourmet jellies, pectin chews, hard candies, cake glazes, and chocolate truffle centers (pairing blood orange with dark chocolate).

  • Dairy & Frozen Desserts: Used in sorbets, gelatos, paletas, and cultured dairy preps where natural crimson anthocyanins provide visual appeal.

  • Distilling & Spirits: Essential for botanical gins, aperitifs, vermouths, and cocktail bitters.

Brothers International supplies commercial blood orange NFC juice, blood orange oil and other blood orange ingredients in standard B2B industrial packaging formats – you can contact us directly here on our website to get additional specific details:

  • Cold-Pressed Blood Orange Oil: Packaged in 25 lb or 400 lb specialized epoxy-lined steel drums or aluminum containers under nitrogen flush to prevent terpene oxidation.

  • Blood Orange NFC Juice & Concentrates: Packaged in 5-gallon pails (~45–50 lbs), 55-gallon steel/poly drums (~500–550 lbs), 220–275 gallon aseptic/frozen totes (~2,200–2,700 lbs), or bulk liquid tankers (~4,000–5,000 gallons).

  • Frozen Storage (-18°C / 0°F or lower): Recommended for all non-aseptic blood orange NFC juice and cloudy concentrates to preserve heat-sensitive anthocyanin color, volatile aromatics, and Vitamin C for 18 to 24 months.

  • Chilled Storage (0°C–4°C / 32°F–40°F): Recommended for 65° Brix Clarified Blood Orange Juice Concentrate to prevent natural thermal browning over 12 to 18 months.

  • Cool, Dark Storage (10°C–15°C / 50°F–59°F): Cold-pressed blood orange oil must be stored under nitrogen flush in light-protected, airtight containers to prevent oxidation.

Because blood orange crops require specific microclimates and can be impacted by spring frosts in Italy or Spain, relying on a single origin creates supply risk. Brothers International mitigates supply chain vulnerability through strategic multi-region sourcing. By contracting directly with audited processing facilities in Italy (Sicily), Spain, California, and South Africa, we guarantee continuous volume allocations, multi-quarter contract security, and predictable pricing year-round.

Every beverage and food formulation requires precise technical parameters to perform consistently on automated production lines. Beyond standard ingredient delivery, Brothers International supports your R&D and QA teams with comprehensive technical documentation and specification matching. We provide batch-specific Certificates of Analysis (COA), detailed product specification sheets, allergen statements, Non-GMO declarations, and heavy metal/pesticide testing.

Whether your product requires a specific pH range, custom titratable acidity, precise color intensity, or tailored seed filtration (down to specific mesh screen sizes), our technical specialists collaborate directly with your formulators to match your operational requirements. To accelerate your product development cycle, we maintain a rapid-ship sample program for bench testing and pilot-scale trials.

Navigating global fruit commodity markets requires proactive supply chain management and real-time market intelligence. Seasonal weather anomalies, shifting freight rates, and harvest yield fluctuations can impact blood orange ingredient pricing and availability. Brothers International acts as a strategic procurement partner, offering market forecasts, crop reports, and flexible contracting structures—including multi-quarter forward contracts to lock in budget stability, as well as spot-market sourcing to fill unexpected inventory gaps.

As direct importers, we handle the complexities of international trade so you don’t have to. Our logistics team manages C-TPAT supply chain security, USDA/FDA import clearances, and customs brokerage to eliminate port delays. Backed by strict temperature-monitored cold-chain logistics, we ensure your frozen strawberry concentrates, purees, and essences maintain complete color, flavor, and microbial integrity from origin to your facility floor.

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Certifications

As a leader in sourcing organic ingredients, we work closely with our suppliers to ensure full traceability, sustainability and to ensure they comply with all international regulations for chemical residues and pesticides. We are organic certified and all our organic products are NOP certified and Kosher certified.

Brothers International Food Holdings is a proud member of the CUSTOMS – TRADE PARTNERSHIP AGAINST TERRORISM (C-TPAT) program. C-TPAT is a voluntary U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that partners with businesses to strengthen supply chain security and reduce risks, including terrorism. For more information, visit www.cbp.gov

All our products are Kosher and GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) Certified. We can supply all of our products with organic certification and, if required, unpasteurized purées and juices.

We have joined the global movement to protect the environment and improve lives for farmers and workers around the world. We help farmers in developing countries builds sustainable businesses that positively influence their communities. Brothers International can assist you in sourcing Fair Trade Certified™ and Demeter (Bio-dynamic)™ ingredients.

Brothers International is a part of CTPAT.
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