My husband went to Whole Foods the other day to pick up our Thanksgiving turkey. While he was there he bought some oranges, not because we needed oranges for our Thanksgiving feast, but because they were a variety he had never seen before. They were bright and fresh-looking, sold with stems and leaves still attached, so how could he resist? But by the time he got home, he had forgotten the name of the variety. He knew only that it started with an “S.”
A couple of days later I was watching an episode of Doctor Who. The Doctor found an orange in the pocket of a borrowed bathrobe. He said, “What have I got in here? A satsuma!” Then he said some things that would make no sense unless you know that in England the satsuma is sometimes called a “Christmas orange” and that they use it as a stocking stuffer. Finally, the Doctor used the satsuma to defeat the alien bad guy and save the Earth.
“Satsuma” starts with “S,” of course, and that’s how I discovered the identity of our mystery orange. And because I was interested to learn more about it, I looked it up on-line, which is how I came to understand what the Doctor had been saying about it. I love this kind of happy coincidence!
On-line, the satsuma is described as easy-to-peel, sweet, and tender. Having eaten a few, I agree. I might even like satsumas better than clementines. Not only are they tasty, but they could come in handy the next time I have to battle aliens.
Does this mean you’re liking Doctor Who more than you had been?
Also, if you ever see Sumo oranges (mandarins), buy them! They are so sweet and gigantic and worth the cost.
Sumo oranges sound good, too. We’ll watch for them!
I have been enjoying “Doctor Who” more. I finished the entire first season and now I’m into the episodes with David Tennant. The writing has changed (for the better, I think). Tennant’s Doctor is more philosophical while also wackier and apt to make pop culture references. He’s a lot of fun to watch.