Citrus Fruits - A Bouquet of Goodness

by VC Staffers
Citrus fruits are of great economic significance to agriculture. In terms of area under cultivation, they are the second largest crop. The crop originated in China about 4000 years ago and was introduced to the Mediterranean due to the exploits of Alexander the Great.

Citrus fruits, especially grapes and lemons, have been perceived across cultures as aphrodisiacs. Yoga prescribes the juice of oranges and lime as having aphrodisiacal and refreshing properties. Other cultures such as some regions of Italy swear by their powers as well. Citrus fruits grow well in tropical and subtropical climatic regions. They need a lot of water and grow well in areas with plenty of rainfall. You can expect a viable harvest after three to five years of planting.

Citrus fruits are grown commercially by seed budding and can be cultivated by grafting as well. They can be planted at anytime of the year. Ready availability of large quantities of water is a requirement.

Citrus fruits are harvested in a non-turgid state to reduce damage to the fruit in transit. The timing of harvesting is crucial as unlike other fruits citrus fruits do not ripen after harvesting and therefore have to be harvested at the right time.

Nutritional Facts

Citrus fruits are best known for having large reservoirs of Vitamin C. This vitamin, also known as ascorbic acid, is a powerful antioxidant and neutralizes free radicals which cause cell and tissue damage that can potentially lead to cancer and heart disease.

Vitamin C is a must for expectant mothers as it acts a cementing agent and contributes towards the formation of collagen that gives structure to different tissues. It also helps babies develop strong bones and teeth. The benefits of vitamin C do not end here, it also increases the absorption of iron and calcium by the body. For example if one drinks grapefruit juice before eating spinach the iron absorption increases two to four times than if you had spinach without the grapefruit.

People who consume high amount of Vitamin C are less susceptible to cancer than those whose Vitamin C intake is less.

Citrus peels contain pectin which is important for the manufacture of jams jellies, and marmalade. Citrus fruit also finds use in the pharmaceutical industry as well in the cosmetics and fragrances industry. They are also an important player in the non-alcoholic beverages industry.

Types of citrus fruits

There are many different types of citrus fruits. A few major varieties are discussed in subsequent paragraphs.

Lemons and Limes

Lemons are supposed to originate from India or Burma and limes from Malaysia. The lemon tree grows up to six meters in height, whereas the rough lemon grows like a shrub. The lemon is a yellow or green fruit, oval in shape and is drunk as juice mixed with water. Limes have the same shape but are smaller and more acid. They are the most detoxifying of all fruits. Extremely popular, you can get them practically anywhere in the world.

Grapefruit

A Grapefruit is a cross between a pummelo and an orange. The tree grows up to 15 meters in height. They are consumed raw, as juice or as marmalade. There are several types of grapefruits like the pummelo – the father of the grapefruit, white and red grapefruits and the Minneola – a cross between a grapefruit and a tangerine. While the pummelo is the largest citrus fruit, grapefruit contains a very large amount of Vitamin C. Grapefruits are known to sometimes have negative effect on certain medicines so if you are on medication, do check with your doctor if you habitually consume a lot of grapefruit juice.

Sweet Orange

They are reddish yellow in color and the trees are from 8 to 15 meters in height. Some different crosses and types of oranges are the satsuma, clementine, kumquat, tangerine and mandarin. Oranges have been cultivated for thousands of years and are said to have originated from China and Indo-China. Clementines are a cross between a mandarin and an orange created by the Monk Peter Clement while the satsuma is a cross of Japanese origin. The orange is a perennial favorite on any table and is rich in vitamins and anti-oxidants.
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