History
The orange or sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) would be native to southern China, northeastern India and perhaps southeastern Asia formerly Indochina. It was transported to the Mediterranean region certainly by Italian traders after 1450 or by Portuguese navigators around 1500.
Until this time, citrus fruits were valued by Europeans primarily for medicinal purposes, but the orange was quickly adopted as a succulent fruit. Besides, rich people grew up in private conservatories, called orangeries.
By 1646, the orange was well known and fully integrated into the diet in Europe. It is Christopher Columbus who would have introduced it to Haiti in 1493 and it would thus have reached the rest of the Antilles during the 16th century. It is found today in all the tropics and subtropics of the Earth.
Varieties
There are many varieties of oranges. In Martinique, you can find oranges with green or yellow skin.
There are many varieties of oranges all over the world (Washington Navel, Trovita, Valencia, Lue Gim Gong, Rhode Red Valencia, Hamlin, Homosassa, Shamouti, Parson Brown, Pineapple, Queen and Blood Oranges).
In Martinique, you can find oranges with green skin (see photo opposite) or yellow. The different varieties present in our island are the following, Washington Navel, Valencia Late, Salustiana, Homlen, Tangor Ortanique, Tangelo Orlando and Pineapple.
The orange tree is a tree with flexible slender thorns deploying its rounded crown up to 6 to 15 m high. It has alternate elliptical to oval leaves, pointed at the top. Its fragrant white flower gives rise to a round fruit whose skin contains small essential oil glands.
First green, this skin takes on a yellowish-green color when ripe (in tropical areas) or bright orange (in areas where ripening takes place in cold weather).
Health benefits
The sweet orange is a nutritious alkalizing food, energy, remineralizing, refreshing and invigorating that:
- has a protective effect in the vessels and antihemorrhagic action while lowering blood viscosity,
- presents appetizing properties eupeptic and laxative,
- is endowed with a diuretic,
- stimulates the nervous system in general,
- possesses virtuous cell and cutaneous rejuvenation,
- has antiscorbutic action,
- finally has anti-infective properties, while enhancing the overall natural defenses of the body.
Uses
After removing the peel, it is eaten either by area or by cutting it in half.
Oranges can also be found in juice or nectar, or in alcoholic liqueurs such as shrubb, the benchmark liqueur at the end of the year.
The zest can also be used in the design of cake or candied fruit.
Oranges are also used in cosmetics and household products.
