Chinese New Year is around the corner, that means an abundant supply of mandarin Orange peels! Whether or not you celebrate CNY, you would usually receive at least a box of oranges from your Chinese colleagues, neighbors or bosses. If you’re wondering why they give out mandarin orange during this festive season, it is because mandarin orange represents luck and wealth. Offering oranges to others is equivalent to wishing them abundant of wealth and luck for the year. After you have enjoyed these sweet low-calorie treats, what do you normally do with the orange peel? Don’t toss them in the bin! Instead, try making full use of the fragrant orange peel.

Mandarin Orange Peels Nutrition

As many would know, mandarin oranges are high in Vitamin C and A. But do you know that its peels are also nutritious too? With a tablespoon (about 6g) of orange peels containing 0.6g of fiber, 0.01g of fats and no sodium, it makes an amazing seasoning substitute without costing your health.

Ways to Utilise Mandarin Orange Peels

1. Add a little zing to your dish with zest
Perk up your meals with a little zest. Orange zest is very fragrant and also adds flavour to your meals, for both savoury and sweet dishes. Don’t be afraid to experiment with them. Ensure that you scrub the orange thoroughly under warm water before grating it. Try out Ashley’s new muesli recipe to get started with using orange zest.

2. Use it as ‘potpourri’
Show off your creativity to your guests by making dried orange peel potpourri. Dried orange peel is beautiful and it makes a perfect decor during this festive season. Cut them into slices of different thickness, mix it with 5 Chinese spices and a drop of orange oil and voila! You have got yourself an amazing and unique potpourri.

3. Use it as a body scrub
Start your new year with smooth and supple skin with your very own homemade orange peel scrub. As we all know, mandarin orange peels contain essential oils which can be beneficial to our skin. All you need are; 2 grated orange peels, 1 cup of sugar and 1/2 cup of coconut oil. Mix them thoroughly and you got yourself a low-cost body scrub. What’s more, you could put it in a nice jar and tie a ribbon around it. It’ll make an amazing gift!

4. Add it to your tea
Traditionally, mandarin orange peels teas are used for coughs that are due to excessive phlegm. But you don’t have to wait till you have a cough to enjoy a cuppa. Include a couple of sundried mandarin orange peels when brewing your tea. This will make your tea smell and taste amazing.

5. Add to red bean soup
Ever wonder why your aunt’s or granny’s red bean soup taste a little different than yours? Chances are, they add dried mandarin orange peel in their soup. This doesn’t only add flavour but also brings your soup to a whole new level. Sometimes it’s the little things that make the biggest difference.