"Every state has an iconic dessert, from George's peach cobbler to New York's cheesecake. In Florida, Key lime pie is often the dessert that's most well-known. But Florida's abundance of citrus means other delicious options are often overlooked. One pie popular among locals but rarely heard of elsewhere is the sour orange pie. If you're a fan of Key lime, you might want to give this one a try."
"Calamansi is a cross between a mandarin orange and a kumquat; it looks like an orange but is small like a lime. Both types of citrus are generally too sour to eat on their own, the way you'd eat most oranges, so using them in baking with some sugar makes them more palatable. That said, their natural sourness provides a great balance."
"For many, sour orange pie is a standout, better than Key lime and an underrated but iconic Florida staple. The point of the pie is to accent that tartness. If you've never had one, try to imagine the appeal of a glass of homemade lemonade, or even Sour Patch Kids. You want to lean into the sour with the sweet to play on your palate."
Sour orange pie is a Florida regional dessert that uses Seville oranges or calamondin (calamansi) to deliver a distinctly tart citrus flavor. The fruits are too sour to eat fresh, so their juice and zest are combined with sugar in a custard-like filling to balance acidity. The recipe mirrors Key lime pie: sour orange juice and zest replace lime, a graham cracker crust provides texture, and the pie is finished with meringue or whipped cream. The goal is to preserve tartness rather than mask it, creating a lively sweet-and-sour contrast that appeals to local palates.
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