15 Vitamin C Foods That Beat Oranges
Oranges are fine, but they are not the standard to beat. These foods deliver far more vitamin C per 100g, according to USDA data.
Data-backed ranking of the strongest food sources
Daily value context so the numbers mean something
Usage tips and tradeoffs, not just a list of names
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EatAndAchieve Editorial System
AI-assisted editorial system
This content is assembled from USDA FoodData Central data, in-house ranking logic, and reusable editorial templates to make nutrition information easier to understand.
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Jordan Vale
Founder, editor, and product builder
Jordan reviews pages for clarity, methodology, and product accuracy before they go live. He also maintains the code, data pipeline, and editorial standards for the site.
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Pages on EatAndAchieve combine USDA source data, site-specific scoring logic, and AI-assisted drafting, then receive human review for clarity and methodology. They are educational tools, not medical advice. Read more on the About page.
This ranking focuses on foods that meaningfully deliver vitamin c per 100g, using USDA FoodData Central as the source of truth. It is a concentration ranking, not a full health score, so the most useful way to read it is to look for foods that fit both your nutrient target and your normal portion sizes.
Why it matters
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that protects cells from damage, supports collagen production for skin and wound healing, and enhances immune function. It also dramatically improves iron absorption from plant foods. Unlike most animals, humans cannot synthesize vitamin C and must get it from food.
Daily target
The FDA daily value is 90mg. Smokers need an extra 35mg per day due to increased oxidative stress. Severe deficiency causes scurvy, but even mild deficiency can impair wound healing and immunity.
How to use the list
Vitamin C is heat-sensitive and water-soluble, so raw or lightly cooked foods retain the most. Steaming is better than boiling. If you eat a variety of fruits and vegetables daily, deficiency is rare.
Screening rule
Foods had to clear basic practicality filters before ranking so the list stays useful, not just technically correct.
Best use case
Use this template when you want the single strongest sources of one nutrient and you are willing to compare foods mainly on that axis.
Main caveat
Per-100g leaders are not always everyday staples, which is why calorie density and tradeoffs are called out inside the list.
Acerola, (west indian cherry), raw sits at the top because 1680mg of vitamin c per 100g is hard for anything else to match. You are looking at 1867% of the daily value per 100g, which is why it stands out in a nutrient-specific ranking like this. At 32 kcal per 100g, this is one of the easier entries to use without overthinking portions.
Peppers, hot chili, green, raw ranks this highly because it is one of the cleaner ways to get a lot of vitamin c quickly. You are looking at 269% of the daily value per 100g, which is why it stands out in a nutrient-specific ranking like this. At 40 kcal per 100g, this is one of the easier entries to use without overthinking portions.
Guavas, common, raw ranks this highly because it is one of the cleaner ways to get a lot of vitamin c quickly. You are looking at 253% of the daily value per 100g, which is why it stands out in a nutrient-specific ranking like this. At 68 kcal per 100g, this is one of the easier entries to use without overthinking portions.
Currants, european black, raw ranks this highly because it is one of the cleaner ways to get a lot of vitamin c quickly. That translates to 201% of the daily value, so it can materially move your intake in one serving. It is also fairly light at 63 kcal per 100g, which makes the ranking easier to use in normal portions.
Peppers, sweet, green, sauteed makes the cut on substance, not hype: 177mg per 100g is enough to matter in an actual diet. That translates to 197% of the daily value, so it can materially move your intake in one serving.
Kiwifruit, ZESPRI SunGold, raw makes the cut on substance, not hype: 161mg per 100g is enough to matter in an actual diet. You are looking at 179% of the daily value per 100g, which is why it stands out in a nutrient-specific ranking like this. At 63 kcal per 100g, this is one of the easier entries to use without overthinking portions.
Peppers, jalapeno, raw is not the flashiest name on the page, but the nutrient density is real at 119mg per 100g. You are looking at 132% of the daily value per 100g, which is why it stands out in a nutrient-specific ranking like this. It is also fairly light at 29 kcal per 100g, which makes the ranking easier to use in normal portions.
Peaches, frozen, sliced, sweetened makes the cut on substance, not hype: 94mg per 100g is enough to matter in an actual diet. You are looking at 105% of the daily value per 100g, which is why it stands out in a nutrient-specific ranking like this.
Worth knowing
High in sugar without much fiber to slow absorption, so it is easier to overdo.
Kale, raw is not the flashiest name on the page, but the nutrient density is real at 93mg per 100g. You are looking at 104% of the daily value per 100g, which is why it stands out in a nutrient-specific ranking like this. At 35 kcal per 100g, this is one of the easier entries to use without overthinking portions. A secondary plus is its calcium (20% DV).
Broccoli, leaves, raw rounds out the ranking with 93mg per 100g, which is still enough to be useful if it already fits your meals. That translates to 104% of the daily value, so it can materially move your intake in one serving. It is also fairly light at 28 kcal per 100g, which makes the ranking easier to use in normal portions.
Peppers, hungarian, raw rounds out the ranking with 93mg per 100g, which is still enough to be useful if it already fits your meals. 103% of the daily value is enough to make this a serious contributor rather than a token source. At 29 kcal per 100g, this is one of the easier entries to use without overthinking portions.
Nance, frozen, unsweetened rounds out the ranking with 93mg per 100g, which is still enough to be useful if it already fits your meals. You are looking at 103% of the daily value per 100g, which is why it stands out in a nutrient-specific ranking like this. At 73 kcal per 100g, this is one of the easier entries to use without overthinking portions. A secondary plus is its fiber (27% DV).
Cauliflower, green, raw is here because even the back half of this list still offers respectable vitamin c density. 98% of the daily value is enough to make this a serious contributor rather than a token source. At 31 kcal per 100g, this is one of the easier entries to use without overthinking portions.
Brussels sprouts, raw lands lower on the page, but 85mg per 100g is still better than what you get from most foods. You are looking at 94% of the daily value per 100g, which is why it stands out in a nutrient-specific ranking like this. It is also fairly light at 43 kcal per 100g, which makes the ranking easier to use in normal portions.
Longans, raw rounds out the ranking with 84mg per 100g, which is still enough to be useful if it already fits your meals. You are looking at 93% of the daily value per 100g, which is why it stands out in a nutrient-specific ranking like this. It is also fairly light at 60 kcal per 100g, which makes the ranking easier to use in normal portions.