It has a lively, pleasantly citrusy scent, a sour flavor, and thick, fleshy flesh: what are we talking about? The citron, of course! Our beloved citrons are harvested between late October and early January, and in addition to being widely used in culinary applications, they possess a variety of characteristicsthat make them suitable for multiple uses. Did you know that citrons constitute a veritable mine of minerals and vitamins? In addition to those in the C group, they are in fact rich in flavonoids and antioxidants, have disinfectant, digestive and laxative properties and, thanks to their very few or almost no calories, are perfect for consumption during diets. Another merit of these citrus fruits lies in their peel, which, being very thick and aromatic, is also used for the extraction of essential oils used in cosmetics, for the creation of soaps, shampoos and perfumes for the body or theenvironment.
USES IN THE KITCHEN AND MORE
Cut a citron in half and store it inside the refrigerator-all odors will be absorbed by the fruit! Keep the peel and place it inside small bags to store in your closets and drawers, you will smell a very good citrus scent that will deodorize clothes and linens. Combinecedar essential oil with almondessential oil to make a mix that stimulates micro-circulation and promotes hair growth. If smeared on the body, it will also help reduce cellulite blemishes.
QUICK RECIPES WITH CITRONS
CITRON AND ORANGE SALAD
Ingredients:
1 untreated citron;
1 untreated orange;
half an onion or spring onion;
1 clump of parsley;
oil, chili pepper and salt. peel the citron into very thin slices and the orange into rounds, chop the onion, combine everything and season with oil, chili salt and parsley!
CANDYED CEDES.
Ingredients:
1 untreated citron;
500 g sugar;
0.5 dl water;
2 tablespoons sugar to sprinkle. Cut the citron in half, squeeze it and detach the pulp from the peel, which should be cut very finely near the white part to reduce the bitter taste; boil the resulting peels with water. Drain them well, add sugar and simmer again until the caramel has evaporated. Then remove the citron segments from the syrup, place them on a baking sheet with baking paper and sprinkle them with sugar. Dry the wedges in a ventilated oven at 60° for 3 hours.Let the resulting zests cool, and here they are ready to be served and enjoyed!
CURIOSITY
Buddhist monks for a long time considered citrons a symbol of wealth, happiness and longevity: they were used, in fact, during ceremonies, so much so that an oriental variety of this fruit was named “Buddha’s Hand.” Its protuberances, due to a genetic malformation that causes the segments to develop separately, actually resemble the fingers of a hand. (click here to purchase them)
