How to avoid pithy citrus flavor

To avoid a pithy citrus flavor, keep thick pieces of the white layer beneath the peel out of a blended drink. A little left on a segment is different from blending an entire rind.

For a smooth orange-and-ginger mix, peel the orange, remove obvious seeds and large pieces of pith, then blend the fruit. If you want peel aroma, add a small amount of finely grated outer zest separately so you control it.

Taste before adding more zest. A drink can go from fragrant to peel-heavy quickly, especially when you are making a small serving. This is also why squeezing citrus and blending peeled citrus can give different results. The method changes which parts of the fruit end up in your glass.