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Citrus Fruits
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Published 2010
Genealogically a wild and unruly family, all citrus fruits are believed to be descendants of the mandarin, the pomelo, and the citron. All citrus fruits share the same genus, Citrus and belong to the Rutaceae family They prefer to grow in temperate to tropical regions. Citrus fruits are native to Asia and to tropical and subtropical regions. These fruit types are high in vitamin C, flavonoids, and water-soluble fibers and have varying degrees of acidity.
Many of the fruits as we know them today are hybrids, or crosses between the sweet orange, pomelo, and mandarin, or mutations arising from interbreeding or cross-cuttings. Oranges are used to make everything from juices to honey and marmalade. The rind can be grated to produce orange zest, which is popular in cooking. In Spain, fallen orange blossoms are collected and made into tea, and orange flower water is used as an ingredient in bakery and pastry making. Orange blossom honey is made by placing beehives in orange groves, and orange peel is used by gardeners to keep slugs away.