Arancia Rossa di Sicilia

Arancia Rossa di Sicilia is a PGI covering blood oranges of the Tarocco, Moro, and Sanguinello varieties grown in a defined zone of eastern Sicily. The designation is distinguished by the blood-red juice produced by anthocyanin pigments in the flesh and peel, a characteristic attributed to the marked day-to-night temperature variation in the production area.

About this designation

Registered as a PGI under file number PGI-IT-0317 and granted EU protection on 21 June 1996, Arancia Rossa di Sicilia covers blood oranges of three pure varieties — Tarocco, Moro, and Sanguinello — each with a defined list of permitted cultivars. The production area is confined to specified municipalities in the provinces of Catania, Siracusa, and Enna in eastern Sicily. All stages of production up to and including harvest must take place within that defined area. Each variety carries minimum diameter and size requirements: Tarocco must reach a minimum diameter of 73/84 mm and minimum size 5; Moro and Sanguinello must each reach a minimum diameter of 70/80 mm and minimum size 6. For all three varieties, the soluble solids to organic acid ratio must be not less than 8,0. The minimum sugar content of juice is 10,0 g/100 ml for Tarocco and Moro, and 9,0 g/100 ml for Sanguinello. The blood-red colour of the juice results from water-soluble anthocyanin pigments in the flesh and peel. When released for consumption, at least 80 % of the fruit must bear the sticker 'Arancia Rossa di Sicilia'. All packaging must carry the words 'Arancia Rossa di Sicilia' immediately followed by the variety name, with the words 'protected geographical indication' appearing directly underneath. The applicant body is the Consorzio di Tutela della Arancia Rossa di Sicilia IGP. The eAmbrosia identifier is EUGI00000013138.

Source: The register document this entry was written from · retrieved August 26, 2026

Distinctive facts

• Registered as a PGI on 21 June 1996 under file number PGI-IT-0317; eAmbrosia identifier EUGI00000013138.
• The specification permits only three varieties — Tarocco, Moro, and Sanguinello — and no other variety qualifies for the designation.
• The soluble solids to organic acid ratio must be not less than 8,0 for all three permitted varieties.
• At least 80 % of fruit released for consumption must individually bear the 'Arancia Rossa di Sicilia' sticker.

Tasting notes

Sicilian blood orange from Catania-Enna-Siracusa area, three varieties (Tarocco, Moro, Sanguinello). Distinctive ruby-red flesh, intensely flavored juice with raspberry and cherry notes, balanced sweet-acid; the iconic Italian blood orange.

HoReCa use

Fresh juice (especially 'spremuta di arancia rossa'), granita, fennel-orange salad, ricotta-orange desserts, and savoury pairings with duck and pork.

Packaging

• crate-10kg
• crate-15kg
• retail-net-bag-2kg
• retail-net-bag-3kg

Seasonality