The bitter oranges, due to their less than pleasant taste, are rarely consumed in their natural state.
Knowledge of this fruit dates back to the year 1000, thanks to the Arabs who caused this fruit to spread to the Sicilian territory. The bitter orange is used by farmers mainly as a rootstock for other citrus fruits because of the particular hardiness of the plant, and they find use in the food and pharmaceutical industries.
Let’s discover together its many qualities
As for the main characteristics, this fruit consists of a molecule called synephrine, very similar to adrenaline, which stimulates the heartbeat, breathing and metabolism of our body; Synephrine acts on our metabolism in that, by stimulating thermogenesis i.e., the elevation of human heat, it increases caloric consumption and thus possesses high slimming qualities since this molecule induces us to eat much less. (This extract is found in a great many slimming and anti-cellulite products.)
In terms of nutritional and medicinal properties, bitter orange has found wide use: it can help in combating depressive syndromes, counteracts insomnia, and is very suitable in cosmetics for the treatment of acne and dandruff. According to traditions, the pulp of this fruit can make many women happy; in fact, the pulp can be applied directly to the face as a real all-natural anti-wrinkle product !
Curiosities
The essence of orange blossom also called neroli is used in perfumery for the creation of many fragrances, these are obtained from the flowers of thebitter orange tree!
USES IN THE KITCHEN
We can use the leaves and flowers of this citrus fruit for the creation of herbal teas with sedative and calming qualities, useful in cases of nervousness, insomnia or irritability by boiling well-cleaned peels of the citrus fruit in boiling water and adding honey to taste.
Bitter orange is used for the creation of very tasty and delicious jams! here is all you need and the procedure: – 1.8 kg of untreated bitter oranges
– 2 lt water
– Juice of 2 lemons
-2 kg brown sugar. After washing the oranges thoroughly, squeeze the juice and collect it in a container. Cut the zest into thin strips being careful not to remove the white part, which is rich in pectin, a substance that will be used to gel our marmalade.
Combine the juice with the peels, add 2 liters of water and let it rest overnight.
After resting bring to a boil and cook for about 1 1/2 hours until the peels become soft. At this point add lemon juice, sugar and cook the jam for at least forty minutes, remembering to stir occasionally. The jam will be ready when it solidifies and does not slide off the plate if you tilt it.
Now your jam is ready to be put into jars! (click here to purchase them)
Contraindications
The ‘use of bitter orange extracts is not recommended in individuals with cardiovascular risk, in children under 12 years old and in pregnant and lactating women, in fact synephrine can cause several side effects such as tachycardia, hyperagitation,arrhythmias, and heart problems in general.
