Cara Cara Oranges are a special cultivar of a navel orange which are distinguished by their rosy flesh. Depending on the orange, the color may range from a pinkish to a deep red, much like that of the grapefruit. Unlike grapefruits, however, Cara Cara Oranges are very low in acid, with a naturally sweet flavor. Some people feel that they are superior to other navel orange varieties in flavor, and they are often in high demand in produce markets when they are in season.

This orange is believed to have developed accidentally, perhaps through a cross of orange varietals. Cara Caras were discovered at the Hacienda de Cara Cara in Venezuela in 1976, and their origins were a bit unclear, leading some people to classify them as a mutation, rather than a true cross, as navel oranges are themselves a mutation and they have not been known to propagate themselves spontaneously. By the 1980s, Cara Cara Oranges had reached the United States, although they were only available in specialty markets.

Like other naval oranges, Cara Cara Oranges have a partially developed fruit enclosed inside the larger orange. A good Cara Cara Orange will feel heavy for its size, indicating that it is very juicy. The season for these oranges peaks at the height of winter, making Cara Cara Oranges available in January and December in the Northern Hemisphere. Unlike the blood orange, another orange with a distinctive pigment, the rind of the Cara Cara Orange does not betray the color of the interior, and is typically a bright, glossy orange.

These oranges can be used in a variety of ways. Their slightly berry-like, sweet flavor tastes delicious out of hand and in fruit salads, and the oranges can also be juiced, eaten with yogurt or granola, or cooked into jams, jellies, and other spreads.

Cara Cara Oranges can be grown in USDA zones 11 and above. They are propagated through cuttings which are grafted to other orange trees, retaining the mutation. Some garden stores sell Cara Cara Orange seedlings, and they can also be ordered through nursery suppliers. Like other oranges, Cara Cara Oranges like lots of sun, fertile soil, and plenty of water to thrive. The oranges must be protected from frost, especially when the fruit is setting, and the roots should be mulched to help the trees retain water.