origin
This fruit of Asian origin, mainly from Southeast Asia, was brought to Europe by Portuguese sailors around the 14th century, although some texts from Roman times dating back to the 1st century BC mention a fruit, grown in Sicily, called “melarancia” (sweet orange).
CHARACTERISTICS
Due to the geomorphology of the area and the dry climate with extreme temperature drops at night, Sicilian oranges are a unique product because of their characteristics and properties.
PROPERTIES
They can be blond/orangey-yellow or red in colour depending on the soil where they are grown.
Sicilian oranges are rich in vitamins, especially vitamins C and A, B vitamins and vitamin PP. This fruit helps to improve circulation as it contains bioflavonoids and, due to its high fibre content, it also promotes intestinal function. In addition, it is an excellent youth ally as it is rich in antioxidants, which fight free radicals.
INTERESTING FACT
Mandarins have numerous organoleptic properties, but these fruits also have symbolic meanings: for instance, “Mandarin” is the name of the elitist language spoken in northern China and it is also the name given to officials and intellectuals who wore tunics of the same colour as the fruit.
