THE HISTORY OF THE ORANGE IN SICILY

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THE CULTIVATION OF ORANGES IN SICILY IS VERY ANCIENT AND HAS BEEN RECORDED SINCE THE ARAB DOMINATION. IN PARTICULAR, THE HILLY AREA AND THE PLAIN SURROUNDING THE VOLCANIC RELIEF OF ETNA HAVE BECOME CHARACTERIZED AND SPECIALIZED IN A VERY PARTICULAR TYPE OF CULTIVATION. IN FACT, DUE TO THE SIGNIFICANT TEMPERATURE FLUCTUATIONS PRESENT IN THE AREA, THE FRUITS ACCUMULATE SUGARS AND ANTHOCYANIN PIGMENTS THAT GIVE THE ORANGES THEIR TYPICAL RED COLOR OF THE PEEL, VISIBLY PLEASANT WITH A SWEET TASTE AND FLAVOR.

THE VARIETIES OF THE SICILIAN BLOOD ORANGE ARE TAROCCO, MORO, AND SANGUINELLO, AND THEREFORE REPRESENT A VERY CLEAR EXAMPLE OF THE CLOSE CONNECTION BETWEEN CLIMATIC FACTORS AND THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PRODUCT. IN FACT, THE SAME VARIETIES OF ORANGE GROWN IN OTHER CLIMATES DO NOT HAVE THE PARTICULAR COLOR AND SPECIFIC ORGANOLEPTIC CHARACTERISTICS THAT HAVE MADE THEM FAMOUS WORLDWIDE.

 

SOURCE: TUTELAARANCIAROSSA.IT