What items are orange in color?

Oranges are one of the most recognizable orange colored items. The vibrant, warm hue of orange citrus fruits comes from carotenoids, including beta-carotene, that accumulate in the peel and flesh. Oranges have long been associated with health, thanks to their nutritious profile of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber.

Fruits and Vegetables

In addition to oranges, many other fruits and vegetables commonly have an orange color. Some examples include:

Carrots – Orange carrots get their bright color from beta-carotene, an antioxidant that converts to vitamin A. They have become one of the most popular and recognizable orange foods.

Pumpkins – Pumpkins have a rich orange color that comes from their carotenoid content. The flesh is nutritious and used for pies, while the seeds are also edible.
Sweet potatoes – These starchy root vegetables come in a variety of orange shades from light to deep. They’re packed with antioxidants like beta-carotene.
Apricots – Apricots are stone fruits with fuzzy orange skin and flesh. They’re an excellent source of beta-carotene and vitamin C.

Persimmons – Ripe persimmons are a bright burnt orange color with a soft, gel-like texture inside. They’re rich in fiber and antioxidants.
Mangoes – The tropical mango fruit turns a golden orange when ripe with incredibly sweet, juicy orange flesh inside. They provide vitamins A and C.
Papaya – This tropical fruit has yellow-orange skin when ripe and vivid orange flesh. It’s loaded with antioxidants from carotenoids and vitamin C.

Butternut squash – With its distinctive bell shape, butternut squash has smooth beige skin and deep orange flesh. It’s packed with vitamin A.
Cantaloupe – Cantaloupes have an orange rind with light orange flesh. The fruit’s beta-carotene content gives it the orange color and vitamin A.

As you can see, many popular fruits and vegetables that are orange contain beneficial antioxidants like beta-carotene and other carotenoids. Their orange pigments signify nutrient density.

Spices and Herbs

Some spices and herbs also have an iconic orange color. Here are a few examples:

Paprika – Made from ground dried red peppers, paprika powder has a deep orange-red hue. It adds color and mild spice to dishes.
Turmeric – Turmeric root is dried and ground to produce the bright yellow-orange turmeric spice. It provides the antioxidant curcumin.

Saffron – The delicate saffron spice consists of the dried orange-red stigmas from crocus flowers. It adds flavor, fragrance and color.
Annatto – Also called achiote, these small red-orange seeds are used as a natural food dye and seasoning. They impart a yellow-orange color.
Cumin – Cumin seeds have a warm, earthy flavor. Whole seeds are light orange-brown while ground cumin powder is brighter orange.

Using orange spices like paprika, turmeric and saffron in cooking is an easy way to add color and phytonutrients to foods. Their pigments come from carotenoids and other plant compounds.

Animal Products

Some animal products are known for their orange color too. For example:

Salmon – Wild salmon get their distinctive orange-pink hue from eating krill and shrimp that contain astaxanthin. It’s a powerful antioxidant.

Lobsters – When cooked, lobsters turn bright orange because of carotenoid pigments in their shell. The color is concentrated in the tomalley (liver).
Cheddar cheese – This popular cheese ranges from pale to deep orange depending on the amount of annatto added during production. Annatto gives it color without flavor.
Egg yolks – The carotenoid lutein gives egg yolks their orange-yellow color. Yolks are also rich in vitamin A and cholesterol.

Butter – Pure butter has a rich golden orange color from its natural carotenoid and milkfat content. Grass-fed dairy is especially high in these compounds.

Some of these animal products are orange because the animals eat carotenoid-rich feeds. In other cases, spices like annatto are added to impart an orange hue.

Plants and Flowers

Certain species of flowers and plants are orange as well. Some examples include:

Marigolds – These brightly colored flowers have various shades of yellow, orange and gold. Popular in gardening, they have an antioxidant called lutein.
Chrysanthemums – Also called mums, these popular fall flowers come in burnt orange, yellow orange and rusty red-orange hues. Some have an edible, mildly bitter flavor.
Jewelweed – This wildflower has delicate orange buds that bloom into translucent orange flowers. Amazingly, jewelweed nectar has an orange tint too.

Coral bells – These perennials produce clusters of small, bell-shaped orange and yellow flowers. Species like Heuchera sanguinea have vivid orange blooms.
Bittersweet – An invasive vine, American bittersweet has round orange fruits that split open to reveal bright red-orange berries inside. The fall foliage is also orange.

Fall is the perfect time to appreciate the orange hues of flowers, foliage and other plants. Their colorful pigments are health-promoting plant compounds.

Foods with Added Colors

While many natural foods are orange, some popular snack foods get their orange color from artificial dyes. For example:

Cheddar flavored snacks like Cheetos – Many bright orange, cheddar-flavored snack foods and crackers contain artificial food dyes like Yellow 6 and Red 40.
Orange soda – Sodas like Fanta contain artificial dyes Yellow 6 and Red 40 to create a bubbly orange drink.

Orange candies – Halloween and autumn candies like peanut butter kisses, gummies, or jelly beans often use artificial dyes to make them orange.
Boxed mac and cheese – To make the classic orange cheese sauce, most packaged macaroni and cheese contains artificial coloring.

While artificial colors make for vibrant orange snack foods, natural options made with spices, fruits and vegetables are healthier choices when you’re craving orange food.

Household Items and Clothing

Beyond edible items, the color orange is popular in household goods and clothing as well. Recognizable orange products include:

Traffic cones – These ubiquitous plastic cones that mark road construction zones and hazards are bright orange for visibility.
Safety vests – Hunters and construction workers wear blaze orange safety vests for visibility outdoors.

Life jackets – On boats and near water, orange life jackets and flotation devices stand out for rescue and recovery.
Boxes – Eye-catching orange cardboard boxes and shipping envelopes from delivery services grab attention.
Sports clothing – Basketball, soccer and other sports teams often wear orange jerseys as an energetic, bold color.

Orange makes a strong visual impact and quickly catches the eye. It’s an energetic, youthful color popular in activewear and safety gear designed for visibility.

Natural Phenomena

Orange appears in mesmerizing displays across nature as well. Some orange sights in nature include:

Sunsets and sunrises – Depending on factors like dust, clouds and moisture, dramatic sunrises and sunsets can glow vivid shades of orange, red and yellow.

Fall foliage – The autumn leaves of trees like maple, oak, elm, and sycamore turn brilliant shades of orange before falling.
Monarch butterflies – Recognizable by their vivid orange wings with black markings, monarch butterflies cluster by the thousands during migration.
Lava – When molten lava first pours from volcanoes, it glows bright shades of orange and red as it’s exposed to oxygen.

Fire – Driven by chemical reactions, flames burn orange, yellow and red depending on factors like temperature and fuel.

Natural sights like fire, fall leaves, lava, and sunrises showcase the visual power and energy of the orange color. They exemplify its warmth, vibrancy and movement in the natural world.

Conclusion

In summary, orange is a dynamic, energetic color that appears prominently across nature, foods, household objects, clothing and more. While artificial orange dyes are common in snack foods, naturally orange-colored foods like carrots, oranges and salmon get their hues from antioxidant plant pigments called carotenoids. Vibrant orange plants, animals and minerals signify nutrient density and health benefits. This bright, attention-getting shade inspires motivation and creativity.