Top 10 Wholesale Citruses for Bars and Restaurants

Today, chefs do way more than add a squeeze of lemon to the food. Citrus is used both in the back of the house and behind the bar. Acid is present in many dishes and beverages in the form of citrus. It makes taste beds pop, cuts fat, and preserves aromatics instead of diminishing them. At Riveria Produce, we supply restaurants and bars within New York’s five boroughs, Connecticut, and New Jersey, with the freshest wholesale citrus and produce in bulk.

Whether you’re looking for a new garnish or a more interesting sour element, here are the best and most used citruses in bars and restaurants.

Meyer Lemons

A cross between a regular lemon and a mandarin orange, with a floral taste. Our wholesale Meyer lemons are about the size of a lemon, sometimes smaller, with a deep yellow peel. The flesh and juice are sweeter than a regular lemon and can be incorporated as a raw or cooked ingredient. The peel can be zested into sweet and savory dishes. The juice can be used in various beverages, baking, or cooking to add brightness to a dish. Chop the whole fruit and add it to chutneys or marmalades or slice it into salads.

Finger Limes

Finger limes are often referred to as caviar limes. Our wholesale finger limes are shaped like small pickles with ends that taper to points. When cut or snapped in half, caviar-looking spheres burst out. They range in color from pale yellow to nearly pink. They have a fresh, tart citrus flavor that pairs well with fish and seafood. They’re also great for jams and marmalades. Pair well with pasta and sweet fruits and are a welcome addition to salads. Due to their unique color and texture, finger limes are often used for garnishes on desserts, giving them an air of extravagance, much like caviar.

Key Limes

When ripe, the skin of key limes turns yellow. Our wholesale key limes can be used for zest or juice, and these limes are typically found behind the bar. The juice can be used for syrups, key lime pie, flavoring marinades, and making limeades. It’s tarter and somewhat more bitter and often used in very sweet desserts to provide balance. The whole fruit can be utilized as a garnish as it has an incredible bouquet and unique flavor.

Blood Oranges

Blood oranges are a wonderfully sweet and beautifully colored citrus fruit. Our wholesale blood oranges look like regular oranges from the outside, but the inside flesh is dark pink, maroon, or even a dark blood red. Along with their red color, the flavor of blood oranges tends to have a noticeable and delicious raspberry edge. They’re popular in many baked goods and cocktails and are often enjoyed peeled and raw.

Kumquats

Kumquats look like tiny, oblong oranges and have a bright sweet-tart flavor. Unlike other oranges, the peel on these fruits is edible. The fruit is also frequently sliced or left whole and candied for a tasty addition to desserts and drinks. Our wholesale kumquats can be pureed or juiced, and peeling isn’t necessary. Though do strain to remove the little seeds.

Navel Oranges

Navel oranges have thick, bright orange skin and are sweet, juicy fruits. Our wholesale navel oranges can be used in cooking, salads, desserts, sauces, or for snacking on raw. They’re often used in baking, including both their zest and juice. The juice becomes slightly bitter when exposed to oxygen but lends a sweet flavor balanced with tang and tartness.

Cara Cara Oranges

These are a type of navel orange, but the inside sets them apart. Our wholesale Cara Cara oranges have pinkish-red and orange flesh. The taste is sweeter than traditional navel oranges, less acidic, with a hint of red fruit. And they’re seedless.

Mandarin Oranges

Mandarin oranges are some of the sweetest fruits of the orange family, just packed into a smaller size. Our wholesale Mandarin oranges can easily be peeled and separated into segments, which are often added to salads and desserts. The juice is often used in salad dressings and sauces. Mandarins are a good choice for any recipe that doesn’t specify a specific type of orange.

Pomelos

Pomelos are the largest and sweetest of citrus fruits. It has a thick rind, a few seeds, and varies in color from dark green to pale yellow. Once you break through the thick rind, peel the skin back like a banana. The pomelo can be used as a raw ingredient and is often found in sweet and savory dishes. Our wholesale pomelos are the least acidic and sour but are less juicy than grapefruits and oranges.

Tangelo Minneolas

This fruit has a deep red-orange skin with orange flesh that is easy to remove. The flavor is a balance of sweet and tart. Tangelos can be used in salads, desserts, and sauces, for juicing, and for snacking on raw. Because of their unique sweet and tangy flavor, they’re often used in their raw form. Our wholesale Tangelo Minneolas can also be juiced for cocktails, and the zest is a refreshing substitute for lemon or orange.

If you find yourself searching for wholesale citrus, look no further than Riveria Produce. We offer everything from produce in bulk during each produce’s season. This makes our offerings not only fresh but locally and seasonally sourced. We make it easy to purchase through our website.