He origin of the name of the orange reveals a fascinating story. The Sanskrit word “naranga”, dating back to 1500 BC, referred to the orange treenot to the fruit, since at that time the oranges did not yet have their characteristic orange color, but were an intense green. It was in the 4th century BC when the variety of orange that we know today appeared, with its vibrant color, the result of crossing grapefruit and mandarin in temperate climates of China. This colorful variety spread and, over time, the fruit reached Europe.
Experts place the origin of the orange in China, Japan or Libya, although its introduction in Spain is attributed to the Arabs in the 10th century. Later, the Spanish brought the fruit to the american continentwhile the Portuguese improved the variety with a sweeter one. Today, oranges are grown all over the world, especially in countries with temperate climates. Spain is the sixth largest producer in the worldwith important cultivation areas in the Valencian Community, Andalusia and the Region of Murcia.
The curious history of oranges
He golden apple treementioned in Greek mythology and associated with Gaia and Juno, it is believed that it actually referred to oranges, a fruit highly valued in ancient times. According to legends, this mythical garden was on Mount Atlas and was full of orange trees. The history of the orange tree begins in south chinawhere it was cultivated for thousands of years and spread throughout Southeast Asia thanks to the Silk Road.
Later, the Arabs introduced the orange to Europe through the southern Spain. Initially, oranges were bitter and were used mainly for decorative purposes. However, over time, sweeter varieties were developed, such as “naranche” which was derived from the Persian “narang”.
He sweet orange cultivation It was perfected in Bahia, Brazil, where the famous Navel Washington orange originated, which was later brought to California and became the predominant variety. In Spain, the Valencian Community stood out for its production of high quality oranges. In Carcaixent, at the end of the 18th century, a priest who was fond of gardening managed to graft the first orange tree with edible fruit.
Today, mainly four varieties of oranges are grown in this region: Navelate, Navelina, Sanguina and Valencia. These varieties are divided into two groups: juice oranges and table oranges. Orange trees in the region produce fruit from fall to summer, and in spring, the fields are filled with the pleasant aroma of orange blossoms.
Such is the importance of this fruit that there is the patron saint of orange trees: the Virgin of the Orange. In her right hand she holds an orange sphere, identified as an orange by the people. In the month of May, it is celebrated in her honor with a mass and a traditional lunch for the orange growers of the province.
Name
In the medieval englandthe orange color was described with the Danish word “geoluhread”, which meant “reddish-yellow”. With the arrival of oranges from Asia, this vibrant color became more popular and the original name, “orange,” became a convenient way to refer to both the fruit and the color.
This transition in language shows how oranges influenced the color namingsimplifying the description of a specific nuance and reflecting the evolution of the vocabulary associated with this appreciated fruit.
Origin of citrus
He origin of citruslike oranges, lemons, tangerines and grapefruits, is found in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and the Malay Archipelago, extending from northeastern India to New Guinea and northern Australia. The citron, the first sour tree known to Europeans, appears in ruins in Babylon and was brought to Egypt by Thutmose III.
The Greeks and Romans They also documented the citron, although they initially considered it exotic. Over the centuries, the bitter orange and lemon tree came to Europe through the Arabs and were cultivated in Italy, France and Spain. He tangerineoriginally from China, was introduced to Europe in the 19th century. In the New World, the Portuguese and Spanish brought citrus fruits to America in the late 15th and early 16th centuries.
In Spain, citrus fruits were initially used for ornamental purposes, but in the 18th century their cultivation began to be developed, especially in the Valencian Community. During the 19th and 20th centuries, the cultivation of citrus fruits in Spain grew significantly, highlighting the export of oranges to international markets such as the United Kingdom.
However, the sector has faced crises due to economic factors and war conflicts, which affected production and prices. Currently, the sector continues to face challenges related to market saturation and the structure of the farms.
