Verdure Part 4: The Orange
The Sweet Orange is not a wild fruit. Hybridized from the Mandarin orange and Pomello, the earliest mention of the Sweet Orange comes from Chinese literature dating back to 314 BC. In the 10th century, The Moors, Muslim inhabitants of the North Africa, Iberian Peninsula, and Southern Italy, introduced the orange to Spain with large scale cultivation. Complex irrigation techniques were specifically adapted to support orange orchards.
Oranges were introduced to Sicily in the ninth century but the Sweet Orange was unknown until the 15th century when Italian and Portuguese merchants brought orange trees into the Mediterranean area. Considered a luxury item, wealthy people grew oranges in private conservatories called orangeries.
King Louis XIV, also known as Louis The Great, had a great love of oranges and built the grandest of all royal orangeries at the Palace of Versailles. Orange trees were potted in solid silver tubs throughout the palace.
Spanish travelers introduced the sweet orange to the American continent in 1493 with Christopher Columbus possibly planting some of the first trees. In the mid 1500s, oranges were introduced to South America and Mexico and to Florida in 1565. Spanish missionaries brought orange trees to Arizona between 1707 and 1710 where in 1769, Franciscans brought them to California.
Archibald Menzies, a botanist on the Vancouver expedition, which was a four and a half year exploration to circumnavigate the globe and contact five continents, grew orange trees from South Africa on board the ship to give them to several Hawaiian chiefs in 1792. During the age of discovery, sailors from all over planted citrus trees along trade routes to prevent scurvy.
With over 400 varieties of orange, these little delicious treats are one of the most hearty of fruits. Grown everywhere from Florida to the Netherlands, there is an orange for every occasion!
The Orange Blossom is the fragrant flower of the Orange Tree. Used in perfume making, The Orange Blossom has been reported to be an aphrodisiac. Currently, the state flower of Florida, the Orange Blossom is traditionally associated with good fortune and has been popular in bridal bouquets and head wreaths for weddings!
The essence of the orange blossom can be made into Orange Flower Water, and alternative to Rosewater. It is also a common part in both French and Middle Eastern cuisine. In the United States, Orange Flower Water is used to make scones and marshmallows! The Orange Blossom also produces pollen that makes an excellent citrus honey and it tastes much like the Orange fruit itself! In Spain, falling blossoms are dried and used for tea.
This completes all articles to date! Starting January, more stories of the sweet and strange, the unusual and unnatural, and the hairy and scary, will emerge from the shadows of history, resuming their haunt of my website! See you then!
As always, please email me if you have any questions or ideas. Remember you can email me at friendsoffolklore@gmail.com!
