Citrus Fruits

Citrus is part of a group of evergreen shrubs and small trees, native to tropical and subtropical regions. The fruits are relatively large, fleshy and juicy and contain significant amounts of citric acid and vitamin C. Besides the familiar oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits and tangerines, there are many other citrus fruits such as citrus, bergamot and grapefruit.

Most citrus trees are thorny branches with long leaves and bright fragrant flowers and spend a lot of white or purple and white. They can easily cross, and many new varieties have been developed to try to determine which strains are resistant to cold or to produce new types of fruit. Among the more than 900 species available tangors, a cross between mandarin and orange, tangelo, a cross between mandarins and grapefruit, and orangelos, crosses between the oranges and grapefruit.

Second, only a collection of citrus because of economic interests. They are grown in warm climates throughout the fertile land, irrigation is available. The vast forests of Florida, California and Texas, the United States is the largest producer of citrus. Other countries are increasingly important citrus Brazil, Spain, Italy and India.

Citrus, were probably domesticated in southern China and Southeast Asia around 1000 BC have been introduced by Arab traders in the Mediterranean, shortly before the Christian era, and the Spanish colonists introduced in 1565 in Florida and California in 1769.

Citrus fruits have become more important agricultural products in the Mediterranean Sea, the southern United States (like Florida), Mexico and South America All citrus fruits contain citric acid, which is like a sour lemon juice. But in many citrus fruits, sulfurous acid is overcome by the sweetness of sugar in fruits. Citrus fruits also contain ascorbic acid (vitamin C) are important food and health. The aromatic oils can be made from the bark.

Oranges, lemons, grapefruit and citrus are the most popular. They are eaten raw and used to make jams and herbs.

Mandarins and tangerines are fruit, small orange. Unlike oranges, has a fragrant bouquet. The files are displayed and are grown for their juice, rather than the fruit itself. On long trips, sailing lime taken to scurvy crew of his departure to avoid a condition caused by lack of vitamin C. Kumquats are very sweet fruits like small orange. They can be eaten fresh or pickled. Large cedars are grown for their fruit acid peels, which are used for oils for perfumes and scents to make. Bergamot, when the fruit is also used to make perfume.

Citrus fruit are classified as the genus Citrus of family Rutaceae (Rue). The kumquat tree are closely linked in the past regarded as a citrus fruit, is now classified in the genus Fortunella.

Posted in Citrus Fruits