Ten Facts About Seville Oranges

image source wikimedia commons

1. The Seville Orange (Citrus aurantium), or sour orange, is native to southeastern Asia.

2. Arabs are thought to have carried it to Arabia in the 9th Century, and it had reached Spain by the end of the 12th Century.

3. For 500 years, it was the only orange in Europe and it was the first orange to reach the New World.

4. Seville Orange are usually smaller and harder than eating oranges

5. Seville Oranges are generally in season in the UK from December to February, they can however be frozen.

6. Seville Oranges are usually too sour to be enjoyed fresh, their greatest use is in Scotland and the UK for making marmalade.

7. The juice can also be used to flavour meat and fish, or fermented to make wine.

8. Oil extracted from the peel is used as a flavouring in the liqueurs Triple sec, Grand Marnier and Curaçao, and also as a commercial flavouring in sweets, ice cream, chewing gum, soft drinks, and pharmaceutical products.

9. In Mexico seville oranges are eaten cut in half, salted and coated with a paste of hot chili peppers.

10. For more information see the very informative article here.