People On TikTok Are Freaking Out Over These Trader Joe's Sumo Oranges
Sumo oranges are blowing up on TikTok. The rough-fleshed, pricy piece of citrus is immediately recognizable from its crowing nubbin of peel, which looks much like a sumo wrestler's topknot. It's currently in stock at grocery stores across the U.S., which makes sense—the variety is in season right now and will be until the end of April—but as of late last week, the fruit has enjoyed special popularity after a TikTok video went viral for the sweetest of reasons.
So, why are people on TikTok talking about Sumo oranges?
A viral video, which currently has 6.2 million views TikTok, shows a woman with long gray locks standing in the checkout line of a Trader Joe’s in New York City's Upper West Side. She's making animated conversation with fellow shoppers, and though her face covered in a blue surgical mask, it's pretty clear that she's grinning from ear to ear.
In her gesticulating hand, she holds a sumo orange. There's no audio of her speaking, but according to the TikTok's creator, she's making a passionate plea for the greatness of her chosen citrus. The video cuts a few times, with each clip showing her making her case to a different shopper. The text over the screen reads, “Obsessed with this woman [in] line at Trader Joe’s convincing everyone else to buy Sumo oranges too.”
Then, the video zooms in on those other shoppers' carts, which now contain... sumo oranges. We don’t know exactly who this woman is—does she work for Big Sumo Orange? Is she merely a sumo orange super fan?—but clearly her powers of persuasion are strong!
What even is a sumo orange?
The sumo orange is a cross between two different citrus fruits—the mandarin and the California navel orange—and developed in Japan over a 30-year period.
“The flesh is super juicy, tart-sweet, like a tangelo but bigger in size and punchier in its citrus twang,” Senior Food Producer June Xie said. “The skin is bumpier and thicker than a mandarin’s, but loosened from the fruit segments, so it is easy to peel. They tend to be more expensive.” We like to imagine this is what the Trader Joe’s lady was saying to her fellow shoppers.
According to SumoCitrus, a company that sells sumo oranges in the U.S., the fruit is so expensive (about $3 per pound) because “it takes four years of constant love and care before a sumo citrus tree produces any fruit,” the website reads. “Despite its rugged appearance, this delicate fruit requires far more expertise and gentle handling than any other piece of citrus.”
Should I take that lady’s advice and try one?
Absolutely! Yes, they are expensive, but they're only in season from January to April. You probably won’t be shocked by the taste—it’s pretty similar to that of other mandarin oranges. But since the the viral Trader Joe's TikTok, other creators are singing the sumo orange's praises. Creator @tybottofficial said sumo oranges are like cutie oranges but “obese" (we guess that's a positive?), while these two sumo orange lovers proclaimed the variety “very good.” After viewing the original TikTok, this Whole Foods shopper couldn't control herself at the sumo orange display bin.
"I hope someone else saw that Trader Joe's TikTok earlier and understands why I'm gonna walking out of here with a bunch of these," she deadpans.
What recipes can I make with sumo oranges?
Xie recommends keeping enjoying slices raw alongside this marshmallow-y cream cheese dip or adding them to this juicy honey-splashed fruit salad. For a dessert option that involves turning your oven on, replace the orange and lemon in this citrus olive oil cake recipe with sumo orange zest.
Consider us influenced! It's the sumo orange's time to shine and we couldn't be more thrilled about it.
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