喺網上買水果、揀水果嘅時候，大家成日會問：「點樣先買到好食嘅橙？」今期我哋嘅水果小百科（Fruit Encyclopedia）同大家深入淺出咁介紹深受香港人歡迎嘅橘子 / 橙（Mandarin / Orange）。無論你想了解橙嘅營養價值、功效定係禁忌，呢篇網店專欄（Fruit Blog）一次過話你知！

Looking to buy fresh fruits online and wondering how to pick the sweetest oranges? In this edition of our Fruit Encyclopedia, we are exploring all about Oranges and Mandarins! Whether you want to know the health benefits, dietary taboos, or nutritional value of oranges, this guide covers everything you need to know for your healthy lifestyle.

一、 橘子 / 橙嘅性味與功效 (Properties and Benefits of Oranges)

  • 性味 (Properties)： 味甘而酸，性涼。

  • 主要功效 (Health Benefits)：

    1. 生津止渴 (Promote body fluid and quench thirst)： 食完容易口乾時食最啱。

    2. 潤肺化痰 (Moisten lungs and resolve phlegm)： 有助化痰順氣，改善咳嗽。

    3. 利尿通便 (Diuretic effect)： 可利尿，改善小便不利。

    4. 改善喉嚨痛 (Sore throat relief)： 橘子葉煎茶飲用仲可以改善乳腺炎。

1. Properties and Health Benefits of Oranges

  • Properties: Sweet, slightly sour, and cooling in nature.

  • Key Benefits:

    1. Promotes body fluids and quenches thirst: Perfect for relieving dry mouth and keeping you hydrated.

    2. Moistens lungs and resolves phlegm: Helps soothe coughs and clear respiratory tracts.

    3. Diuretic effects: Promotes urination and helps improve difficulty in urination.

    4. Throat and breast care: Tea brewed from orange leaves can help alleviate mastitis.

二、 橘子 / 橙嘅食用禁忌 (Taboos and Precautions)

  1. 風寒咳嗽要避開 (Avoid during cold-induced cough)： 如果係因感冒風寒引起嘅咳嗽，千祈唔好食橘子，因為會刺激氣管黏膜。

  2. 切忌空腹食 (Do not eat on an empty stomach)： 空腹食橘子容易刺激胃黏膜。

  3. 避免同白蘿蔔或牛奶同食 (Do not eat with white radish or milk)：

    • 橘子同白蘿蔔或牛奶一齊食，喺人體代謝後會產生硫氰酸，抑制甲狀腺作用。

    • 橘子所含嘅類黃酮物質同呢啲食物一齊作用，容易導致甲狀腺腫大。

    • 橘子含有嘅成分會使牛奶凝固，影響胃嘅消化吸收，所以食完橘子唔好即刻飲牛奶或食白蘿蔔。

  4. 小心皮膚變黃 (Skin yellowing from excess)： 連續大量食用會令皮膚變黃。

2. Important Dietary Taboos and Precautions

  1. Avoid during cold-induced coughs: If your cough is caused by a cold or wind-chill, avoid eating oranges as they can irritate the respiratory mucosa.

  2. Do not eat on an empty stomach: Eating oranges on an empty stomach can irritate your stomach lining.

  3. Avoid consuming with white radish or milk:

    • Eating oranges with white radish or milk produces thiocyanic acid during metabolism, which suppresses thyroid function.

    • The flavonoids in oranges combined with these foods can easily lead to goiter (enlarged thyroid).

    • Components in oranges cause milk to curdle, impairing digestion and absorption. Avoid drinking milk or eating radishes immediately after consuming oranges.

  4. Watch out for yellow skin: Consuming large amounts continuously may cause temporary skin yellowing.

三、 買橙 / 橘子小貼士：點樣揀靚橙？ (How to Choose Sweet Mandarin Oranges)

想喺網店買到又甜又多汁嘅橙？記住以下呢幾個揀橙秘訣：

  • 外觀與手感 (Appearance & Texture)： 揀果實圓大、飽滿、有彈性、上手有重量感、水分甜度先夠高。

  • 籽嘅多寡 (Seeds)： 橘子種類繁多，其中以「柑橘外皮最難剝，果肉特甜，果核少才係良品」。

3. Shopping Guide: How to Choose Sweet and Juicy Oranges

Want to pick the best oranges when shopping online? Keep these tips in mind:

  • Appearance & Texture: Look for round, plump, and firm oranges that feel heavy in hand, indicating high moisture and sweetness.

  • Variety: There are many types of mandarins and oranges; generally, those with tougher rinds often yield exceptionally sweet flesh with fewer seeds.

四、 每 100g 橙 / 橘子營養成分表 (Nutritional Value per 100g)

  • 熱量 (Calories)： 40 kcal

  • 水分 (Water)： 89 g

  • 碳水化合物 (Carbohydrates)： 10.2 g

  • 維生素 A 效力 (Vitamin A)： 66.7 RE

  • 維生素 C (Vitamin C)： 31 mg

  • 鉀 (Potassium)： 55 mg

  • 鈣 (Calcium)： 24 mg

  • 鐵 (Iron)： 0.2 mg

4. Nutritional Value per 100g of Oranges

  • Calories: 40 kcal

  • Water: 89 g

  • Carbohydrates: 10.2 g

  • Vitamin A Activity: 66.7 RE

  • Vitamin C: 31 mg

  • Potassium: 55 mg

  • Calcium: 24 mg

  • Iron: 0.2 mg