Sicilian Orange

The orange is the fruit of the orange tree, of the "Rutaceae" family, belonging to the citrus group
("Citrus") and native to China.

The orange has an external rind or peel (pericarp), initially green in color which turns yellow or
reddish-orange as it matures. The internal pulp (endocarp) is divided into compartments (segments)
which contain the juice which can have a yellow, orange or red colour.
It is grown in Mediterranean areas such as Spain, Greece, Italy.As regards Italian national production,
70% takes place in Sicily, and 20% in Calabria.
Bitter orange ("Citrus aurantium") is native to China, and was introduced to Europe by the Arabs in the
10th century. The pulp of its fruit is acidic, bitter and rich in seeds and the peel is orange in color and
quite thin: it is used by the food industry for pastry making or for the production of liqueurs such as
"Curacao".
The sweet orange ("Citrus sinensis") is native to Vietnam, India and Southern China, and is the most
cultivated citrus fruit in the world.
Sweet oranges can be divided into:

- blonde oranges with yellow-orange flesh
Washington navel, Navelina, Navelate, Newhall, Thompson, Golden Buckeye (with the presence of the
navel, which is due to the formation of a second fruit), or Common Blonde, Belladonna, Valencia and
Oval;

- blood oranges with red pigmented pulp among which we find the:
* Tarot, spherical with pulp streaked with red and without seeds.
* Moro, ovoid with red flesh and almost seedless.
* Sanguinello and Sanguigno, with red pulp, little sugar and with a high content of citric acid.

The orange harvest period includes seven months of the year, from October with the Navels, until the
beginning of June with the Valencias and the Oval. From December to March, however, the Moro and
Tarocco varieties are harvested, which are the most productive.The nutritional characteristic of oranges,
as is well known, is vitamin C, which is very important for strengthening the immune defenses against
viruses and bacteria or chemical agents.
Orange can be consumed fresh, in wedges, in juices, in garnishes or as an ingredient in salads.
It is also used for the production of desserts, donuts and creams but also for drinks, liqueurs, jams,
jellies, candied fruit and ice creams.
It is often used in the preparation of second courses with a sweet and sour taste. A dish worthy of
mention is the famous orange duck.
■ Curiosity
Some historical notes on curious customs
The Arabs, who arrived in Sicily in the 9th century AD, brought oranges to Italy, and discovered that the
snow from Etna, cane sugar and citrus juice gave rise to very fragrant thirst-quenching sorbets.
The custom of using orange flowers to decorate the clothes of brides dates back to the times of the
Crusades, which were given by knights to their brides on their wedding day, as Saracen traditions
attributed the value of fertility to orange flowers.
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