5 Foods That Taste Better in January Than They Will All Year

Never know what’s growing now? Let’s take it one season at a time, with the Foods That Taste Better Now Than They Will All Year.

Chilly weather may have you dreaming of hot chocolate rather than the produce aisle, but some healthy foods taste especially good in the cold months. Chris Romano, a global produce coordinator at Whole Foods, says January is the month for citrus fruit. Here are some of the varieties you should try this month:

Meyer lemon: Switch up your main squeeze and choose a Meyer variety over the run-of-the-mill lemon this month. Meyer lemons are smaller and a bit rounder than regular lemons, and they don’t taste as tangy. “They’re sweeter than they are sour, and it’s the favorite lemon to use when you’re cooking any type of seafood,” says Romano. “It’s not something you would eat out of your hand, but it’s great for cooking and adding to dishes.”

Pomelo: This fruit is greenish on the outside and has a very thick skin. “They are absolutely delicious and fun to eat,” says Romano. “Pomelos are their best in January and just a little after, so this is really the month to eat them.” Look for fruits that are firm and heavy for their size with vibrant color.

Cocktail grapefruit: If you’re going to be having a cocktail or two in the early New Year, add this grapefruit to your ingredient list. “Cocktail grapefruits have virtually no acid, so it’s a very sweet type of grapefruit,” says Romano. “It’s great to put in an updated old-fashioned.” While you’ll see grapefruits throughout the winter, Romano says January is really their tastiest month.

Kumquat: “These tiny little fruits are no bigger than the tip of your finger,” says Romano. A kumquat’s skin is sweet and its flesh is sour, and you can eat both parts. Romano recommends substituting kumquats for cherry tomatoes in any winter salad.

Page mandarins: “This is a ready-to-peel citrus item that’s super sweet with the right amount of tartness,” says Romano. Page mandarins are very bright, and they’re one of the better citrus fruits to eat right away. According to Romano, page mandarins will disappear in February, so snag them this month.

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