Well butter my biscuit, who'd have thought the end of the world would come with complimentary citrus? Here I am, dodging Stardust mutants and radioactive squirrels in Once Human, when suddenly – BAM! – nature's candy dangles before my eyes like tiny apocalyptic suns. Oranges! In this grimy, polluted wasteland, finding a cluster of vibrant orange trees feels like stumbling upon a secret garden guarded by chaos. And let me tell you, after weeks of gnawing on questionable jerky, the sheer joy of biting into a juicy orange almost made me weep. Almost. I'm still a tough survivor, after all – just one with sticky fingers and a newfound obsession with vitamin C.

Citrus Treasure Hunt: Operation Orange Hoarding

After my first life-changing orange encounter, I became a fruit ninja scouring every pixel of this radioactive playground. Through trial, error, and several unfortunate encounters with feral raccoons (note: they REALLY dislike sharing fruit), I've mapped two prime orange paradises:

  1. Citrus County (Dayton Wetlands) - Northwest of creepy ol' Deadsville lies this farm that somehow escaped total annihilation. Picture this: rows upon rows of orange trees glowing like torches against the toxic green sky. my-zesty-apocalypse-orange-hunting-juicing-in-once-human-image-0 The first time I saw it, I sprinted like a kid toward a candy store... only to trip over a mutant turnip. Worth it.

  2. Tall Grass Inn Outskirts (Chalk Peak) - Head northeast from this dusty settlement, and voilà! Orange trees casually chilling in fields like they ain't part of an apocalypse. I once spent 20 real-life minutes here while my squad fought off acid-spitting slugs. Priorities, people!

Honestly, picking oranges has become my weirdly therapeutic ritual. There's something magical about plucking fruit while a two-headed crow screeches ominously overhead. Pro tip: Always shake trees vigorously first – sometimes mutant spiders fall out before the oranges do. Learned that the hard way.

Juice Crafting: My Sippy Apocalypse Revolution

Now, raw oranges are dandy, but orange juice? That’s the holy grail of wasteland beverages. Here's how I transformed from scavenger to juicer extraordinaire:

  1. Gather Your Weapons: One glorious orange (or ten... no judgment).

  2. Find a Cooking Station: Any stove or kitchen set works. I prefer the one at my base because it lets me dance while crafting. my-zesty-apocalypse-orange-hunting-juicing-in-once-human-image-1

  3. The Sacred Ritual:

  4. Open crafting menu

  5. Scroll to Orange Juice recipe (it’s between “Doubtful Stew” and “Mystery Jam”)

  6. Select quantity (I usually go mad and craft 5 bottles)

  7. Smash that 'F' key like it owes me money

  8. Victory Sip: Retrieve your golden elixir in 3 seconds flat. The glug-glug sound alone heals my soul.

My first successful juice batch felt like winning the apocalypse lottery. I chugged a bottle mid-zombie chase and actually giggled while running. The stats? Who cares! When life gives you radioactive lemons... wait, no – when life gives you oranges, you become the juiciest survivor alive.

Why Bother? Because Zombies Deserve Envy

Beyond the obvious swagger of sipping OJ while others chug murky pond water, here’s why this matters:

  • Mental Health Boost: Staring at cheerful orange liquid > staring at gray sludge

  • Barter Power: Traded 2 bottles for a shotgun shell once. Vitamin C = currency!

  • Pure Satisfaction: Nothing says “I thrive in chaos” like freshly squeezed juice

Honestly, it’s the little rebellions – like enjoying citrus while the world burns – that keep me sane. Now if only I could find ice...

Juicy Intel: FAQ from One Citrus Addict to Another

🍊 Q: Do oranges actually DO anything besides tasting awesome?

A: Well, they don’t give you laser eyes (I tested extensively), but they DO cure my existential dread for 3 glorious minutes per bottle. That’s better than any medkit!

☢️ Q: What if a mutant destroys my cooking station mid-juice?

A: Cry first. Then rebuild. Pro tip: Place stations indoors unless you enjoy rad-badgers stealing your OJ. Again... learned the hard way.

👾 Q: Can I use rotten oranges?

A: Technically yes, but the resulting "Murky Fizz" gave my character explosive diarrhea for an hour. 0/10 do not recommend. Fresh or bust!

🧃 Q: Why does my juice look radioactive green sometimes?

A: Congrats, you’ve discovered the rare “Stardust Surprise” flavor! Side effects may include glowing in the dark or temporary telekinesis. Maybe.

🌳 Q: Any secret third orange location?

A: I’ve heard rumors of a tree guarded by singing mushrooms in Whispering Woods. Still searching... and slightly terrified.