Eleven citrus and one more

2002/05/29 Elhuyar Zientzia

• Botanika
• Dietetika/Elikagaiak

The genus Citrus includes numerous species such as sweet and bitter orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit, mandarin, kumquata and many other varieties created by hybridization.

Those consumed in the Basque Country come from Spain and are highly appreciated, especially in winter, because there are few options of other fruits and vegetables and are primary sources of vitamin C. In addition to having a good taste, they are healthy and of course have many beneficial properties.

However, citrus fruits are not just food, they are given another use. For example, for centuries they are used to decorate the gardens and margins of the streets, as shown by the trees of the bitter oranges of the Alhambra of Granada and the Alcázar of Seville. Currently, the greatest demand is presented by citrus groves and about 60 species are used, due to its low size and its spectacular and aromatic flowering.

Steam is another interesting element of citrus. For example, three essential oils are obtained from orange. Those that come out of the bark and orange flowers are used in the food industry, while those extracted from flowers and leaves are used in perfumery. Not only orange, lemon, grapefruit, tangerine and other citrus fruits have long been used in perfumery, since essential oils of citrus fruits reinforce the starting notes of the aromas and provide freshness and cleanliness to them.

Therefore, it is clear that citrus fruits are not only attractive to the mouth, but also to sight and smell.