Eating oranges in the shower: the new viral TikTok shower ritual

There is a new TikTok trend of eating oranges in the shower. What is this viral shower ritual? Where did it originate? What are it’s benefits? And what are the side effects?

Eating oranges in the shower-a shower ritual

There are many types of shower rituals that some people do in their daily life routine. But the latest strange and unique viral trend on TikTok is eating oranges in the shower. In this, the process is to turn on the shower, grab an orange, get in, peel the citrus fruit and start eating it.

The earliest mention of it is in a 2015 Reddit post that was on a now-deleted account.
The poster described it as a feel good experience of the consumption of shower oranges. And in the same year, a subreddit titled Shower Orange came up. And now this concept has found a new audience and fans on TikTok.

Benefits of Shower orange eating

Registered dietitian, Maggie Michalczyk tried this stunt with a Sumo citrus that peels easily. And she was thrilled. She felt that the shower steam accentuated the smell of the orange. She said:

“I feel like there’s a lot of wellness rituals that catch fire and anything that’s somewhat simple to do, but that could make you feel a little bit more energised or motivated, is something I think a lot of people are willing to try,”

“I know for me personally, living in Chicago where we don’t get a lot of sunlight in the winter, I’ll try anything for a boost of energy on a grey day, which is another reason why eating an orange in the shower appealed to me.”

The energizing aromatic citrus scent is enhanced with the shower heat and humidity. Another dietitian, Alyssa Northrop highlights another advantage:

“If you’re lucky enough to have an especially juicy orange, eating it in the shower eliminates any sticky mess,”

Nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner agrees:

“It’s true that peeling and eating an orange is messy, and being in the shower, you can easily rinse it off,”

The shower orange ritual is a great form of relaxing self-catering similar to a sauna or spa visit. Having citrus fruits benefits the body and immunity due to its rich vitamin C content.

Lopsides

But despite being able to wash hands immediately, there still would be the mess of peels and seeds that one has to dispose off after the shower. Further, Alyssa points out:

“In my practice, I emphasise mindful eating. So I see a potential downside to this trend if people are multitasking by showering while eating an orange for breakfast,”

“I would much prefer people focus all of their senses on the taste, smell, texture and experience of the orange itself rather than showering at the same time.”

Read here: Citrus fruits: how to incorporate these versatile fruits in cooking?

Dawn also warns against multi-tasking:

“It’s fine to eat an orange in the shower once to do the experiment, but don’t make it a habit. It’s really best to eat and enjoy food from a plate while seated at a table.”