The Correct Way to Eat an Orange: A Guide

The following is a step by step guide on how to create the most ideal conditions and arguably the only correct way to eat an orange. The finer details may be overlooked, however it is important to understand the essential principles of this guide which perfectly capture the taste of summer.

To begin, you must find yourself awake at 8 am on a warm July morning with no plans for the day and no reason to get out of bed. Over the course of the hour, you must doze in and out of sleep and dreams until the sun has entirely infiltrated your room. Once completely awake, you must step onto your balcony that overlooks a grove of orange trees (it’s been in your family for the last 65 years) and take a deep breath (in through your nose, out through your mouth). It is important to practice gratitude in this moment; think of all the things you are grateful for. You might as well say it out loud. After this, pick an orange (grocery store bought is acceptable too) and place it in your fridge. While this step is the most straightforward and simple of the list, it is one of the most important, so don’t forget it. By now, it should be around 9 am and the sun will begin to heat the air to a comfortable 75-80 degrees (obviously this will vary with geographic location, but in this scenario we must factor in the ideal temperature for your family’s orange grove to thrive, thus a range of 55-100 degrees Fahrenheit). Go on a walk, do some yoga, or anything to get the blood moving and your body awake. The next several hours are up to you, but the time must be spent outside in some capacity, ideally working up a sweat. I suggest alternating between swimming and sunbathing at the river nearby (it’s really more of a creek). At approximately 2:30 pm, stop your chosen activity, head back inside and grab the orange out of the fridge. It’s best to be slightly overheated with the faintest glow of a fresh sunburn on your cheeks; your body should be begging for a cool shower. Take the orange with you. Set the water to a lukewarm temperature and begin peeling the orange. The aroma of the zest should fill the room and remind you of something nostalgic related to your childhood. Then in a way only seen in the most primal of animals, bite into the orange with all the vigor of a starving man. Imagine this orange is the Fruit of Life, your Last Meal, and/or the Heart of your Greatest Enemy. Let the juice cover your mouth, throat, and hands; feel the soft, cold flesh on your tongue; roll the pearls of seeds between your teeth and spit them out; be rejuvenated and filled with joy. Eat all of it, even when you become full. Wash everything off in the water and add this to your list of things to be grateful for. Take a nap.

By eating an orange in this manner, you will find that, while the traditional way is adequate, you will never be completely satisfied by it. You will be filled with nostalgia and longing, just as all summers are, and wonder if you will ever feel that way again. The secret to this recipe and why it works so well, is it's a completely out of the ordinary and unexpected way to eat an orange. When we partake in these unexpected activities, we must be wholly present. We stop thinking about 10 minutes from now or 1o years ago and allow our entire attention on the Right Here and Now. So the next time you eat an orange, in the shower or not, remember all that exists is this moment.