Eli5 Why do some oranges burst with flavor while others of exact color are basically tasteless?
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genetics and growing conditions. many of the fruits sold in markets have been selectively bred and/or genetically modified to be more flavorful and have less inedible tissues like rinds, and the ones that didn’t live up to standards usually get tossed. Many fruits also don’t actually grow true to seed, meaning any seeds started may not be as good tasting as the fruit it came from. sometimes you get the lower quality fruits that just don’t taste as good in a market, usually to save money or because they ran out of the good ones.
and then there is growing conditions. fruits are a huge energy and resource commitment to a plant, so if a plant is not healthy and/or not getting enough sun to photosynthesize and make sugars, less sugars and other molecules that affect taste make it to the fruit. certain types of diseases and pests can also cause fruits to grow deformed or less tasty as a side effect, though i can’t remember specific names of some of these diseases off the top of my head.
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