Bitter oranges grew wild along the Caspian thousands of years ago. They were taken to China via the Silk Road, and centuries later, hybridized sweet orange was returned to Iran by Portuguese merchants.
The trees was brought to Spain by the Moors, long before the arrival of the sweet orange and are widely planted in courtyards and plazas in Andalusia.
It is widely grown in Europe and has thick, dimpled skin. Seville orange with its bitter peel, is commonly found in marmalades. It is the most traditional and arguably the finest marmalade fruit of all. Seville orange also grown for orange liquor.
The orange peel is commonly employed as a stomachic, promotes appetites and is particularly useful in restoring tone to the stomach which it has been impaired by excess.
In cookery Seville juice and paste impart a fine, astringent taste to many fish dishes.
Seville orange fruit
