Citrus fruits have long been included in our diet and have taken root there as relatives. No one can imagine how to celebrate the New Year without tangerines. Everyone knows that lemon is a storehouse of vitamin C, orange is a good mood, and grapefruit helps to lose weight. What else is new about citrus fruits? It turns out a lot.
The benefits of citrus fruits have been known for a long time. Citrus fruits grow mainly in the tropical zone. Nevertheless, they have long been frequent guests at our table. In addition to our usual oranges, lemons and grapefruits, citrus fruits include lime, pomelo, kumvat, bergamot, citron and other fruits. The aroma of any citrus fruit can help relieve depression and lift your spirits. The main reserves of nutrients and nutrients are not found in citrus fruits, but in seeds, peel and foliage. Interestingly, citrus trees are long-lived. They can live for several hundred years and continue to bear fruit.
Orange
- Orange is the healthiest citrus fruit. The classic citrus. In terms of its beneficial properties, it surpasses both lemon and grapefruit. And in terms of the content of potassium and folic acid, it confidently takes first place among its brethren.
- Sicilian orange prevents the occurrence of Alzheimer's disease by 25% and helps fight cancer.
- An ordinary medium orange contains 10 almost identical slices.
- Oranges ripened in tropical climates are green in color and orange in temperate climates. The fruit acquires such an attractive orange color when there is a lack of sun.
- Orange juice can treat heartburn. Its acid neutralizes the alkaline environment that forms in the stomach during heartburn.
- There is a Moro orange that has a blood-red flesh.
Mandarin
- China is considered the birthplace of mandarin, where they have been grown for over 3000 years. Today, cultivated mandarin species have taken root in Georgia, Turkey, Abkhazia, Greece, France, Spain, Portugal.
- Mandarin was brought to Russia during the war in the Caucasus in the 19th century. They were included in the New Year's menu for a reason, this is one of the few exotic fruits that were available in winter. For the first time, a mass delivery of tangerines to the USSR from Morocco took place in 1967. Although the very tradition of giving tangerines for the new year appeared in China, there this fruit is considered a sign of financial well-being.
- Today there are about 50 types of tangerines, in addition, there are decorative species for growing at home.
- The color of the tangerine peel can be from bright yellow to light orange.
- Tangerines help relieve hiccups. Such a delicious treatment.
- You can save tangerines for a long time by creating conditions for them with high humidity and a temperature of about 6 degrees (this is the lower shelf of the refrigerator or a special compartment for fruits).
Grapefruit
- The largest amount of grapefruit is grown in Florida, USA.
- Grapefruit trees bear fruit all year round, but the sweetest fruits come from late autumn to early spring.
- Grapefruit helps to fight extra pounds, since the body spends much more energy on its digestion than it receives from the fruit, in addition, grapefruit helps to normalize the digestive system, reduces the occurrence of diseases of the cardiovascular system, normalizes blood sugar levels, and has a beneficial effect on the gums.
- It is not recommended to use grapefruit with medications, as it unpredictably affects the action of certain medicinal components, which can lead to unpredictable outcomes, including fatal ones.
- Lemon and grapefruit are much less likely to cause allergies than other citrus fruits.
Lemon
- Lemon is an evergreen tree that blooms and bears fruit all year round. One tree per year can yield up to 250 kilograms of fruit.
- In Spain, lemon is considered a symbol of unrequited love, but an orange is a symbol of mutual feelings.
- Lemon is a good bleach, it can whiten teeth after coloring food, for example, blueberries, beets, blackberries.
- In ancient Rome, lemon was used exclusively for the purpose of fighting moths, as it was considered a poisonous fruit. And this is really so, only not the fruits of the plant are poisonous, but its roots, which contain the toxic substances of psoralens. They provoke lethargy, vomiting and diarrhea, touching the roots can irritate the skin and increase sensitivity to sunlight.
- Lemon, placed in a vase with other fruits, prolongs their freshness.
Interesting facts about citrus fruits
- The first mention of citrus fruits in literature dates back to 2400 BC.
- In California, it is forbidden to eat oranges while taking a bath. This is because sour orange juice, when mixed with bath oils, can cause an explosion.
- The aroma of orange is the third most popular in the world after chocolate and vanilla.
- Orange juice is the most popular juice on the planet, and oranges are the fourth most popular fruit.
- In Jamaica, the halves of oranges are used to clean floors, and they are also used in car repairs to remove grease, oil and oil spills.
- In Afghanistan, orange juice is used to wash dishes and add to food to make it less greasy.
- In countries where grapefruit is grown, annually on February 2, holidays are held in his honor, which resemble carnivals in scale and last for several days without a break for sleep.
- Pomelo is the largest citrus fruit on the planet. They can be up to 25-35 centimeters in diameter and weigh up to 10 kilograms.
- Kumvat fruits are used to treat hangovers in China.
- Bergamot is a type of citrus plant, its fruits are similar to those of lemon, but they taste incredibly sour. Therefore, bergamot is used as a flavoring agent in perfumery and tea making.
- In Odessa, there is a monument to an orange, this is due to the fact that residents of the city gave a bribe of 4000 oranges to Paul I to build a commercial port in the city.
You can cook light and original dishes from citrus fruits at home, and these are not only desserts, but also salads, sauces and even side dishes. You can prepare a salad step by step according to the following simple recipes.
Brazilian salad
Products:
For cooking, you need 200 grams of celery, banana, apples, oranges, grapes or raisins and mayonnaise.
Preparation
Peel the oranges and leave in slices, cut the bananas into slices, cut the apples and celery into strips, add the raisins and season with mayonnaise.
Orleans Fruit Salad
Products:
For cooking, you will need 150 grams of white and pink grapes, pineapple, bananas, tangerines, 200 grams of grapefruit, 5 oranges and 300 grams of mayonnaise. Cut the grapefruit and pineapple into cubes, cut the bananas into semicircles, remove the seeds from the grapes. Peel and seed tangerine slices. Squeeze the juice from the orange halves, and use the halves themselves as baskets for serving salad. Dilute orange juice with mayonnaise. Mix all ingredients and season with mayonnaise and orange juice sauce. The salad has an original taste and is perfect for a festive menu.
