Why does another orange grow inside an orange? Sour oranges - why and what to do

Description:

Orange is the most heat-loving plant among citrus fruits. This must be remembered when growing it in an apartment. The plant sets fruit as a result of cross-pollination and self-pollination.

India and Southeast Asia are considered the birthplace of the orange.

Orange has healing properties, which the ancient Egyptians knew about. Modern Scientific research showed that 100 g of orange fruit contains essential nutrients as follows: water - 87.5 g, proteins - 0.9 g, carbohydrates - 8.4 g, fiber - 1.4 g. Minerals: sodium - 13 mg, potassium - 197 mg, calcium -34 mg. Vitamins: carotene - 0.05 mg, B1 - 0.04 mg, PP - 0.2 mg, C - 60 mg.

Care:

Temperature: The most suitable air temperature for growing an orange tree is +16-24 degrees.

This fastidious plant does not like dry air and drafts. Smoke and fumes from kitchen fumes have a negative effect on him. The orange tree does not tolerate other aromatic plants next to it, especially during the flowering period.

He also really doesn’t like frequent changes from place to place and sharp turns.

With sufficient sunlight the orange tree will thank its owner with fragrant juicy fruits.

Watering: To water the plants, you should use only well-settled (at least 24 hours) tap water in an open container. Boiled (soft) melt water is also suitable. In summer they water twice - in the morning and in the evening. warm water(about +20-23 degrees). In winter, plants are watered less frequently. Water should be taken warmer (+25-28 degrees).

The need for watering can be determined by the color of the top layer of soil: when dry, ordinary garden soil becomes light color. You can also knock on the sides of the pot. Pots with dry soil produce a louder sound. A dull sound indicates that the plant does not need watering.

It should be remembered that if you water excessively, the soil may become acidic and the root system of the orange will begin to die. Lack of moisture is also extremely undesirable, especially during flowering and fruiting.

Checking for the need for watering can be carried out in the following way: Take a lump of soil from the pot and squeeze it in your hand. If it crumbles, it means watering is necessary.

Feeding: Plants need to be fed 2-3 times a month. early spring until autumn. In winter, feed less often. You can feed with minerals and organic fertilizers- in summer: 1 time every 10 days, and in winter 1 time per month. It is better to use mineral ones complex fertilizers. For 2 liters of water you need to take 3 g of ammonium sulfate, 2 g of superphosphate, 1 g of sylvinite. Fertilizer is applied after watering. Of the organic ones, you can use an infusion of manure, diluted 10 times before use. An excellent potassium-phosphorus fertilizer for indoor plants is the ash of deciduous trees. Add a teaspoon of ash per liter of water, stir and water the plants with this solution 1-2 times a month. The sediment should be removed. You can also use dried tea or coffee grounds as a top dressing, which contain many microelements. When dried, they improve the soil structure. Once a month (not more often), it is possible to water the plants with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, but only in the evening. If you suspect an overdose of fertilizers, you should urgently replant it to save the plant. Dip a lump of old soil into a bowl or any other vessel with settled or boiled water at a temperature of +22-25 degrees. The soil will quickly soften and release the plant's root system, settling to the bottom of the bowl. Cover the root of the tree new soil just like with a regular transplant.

Lighting: Orange is a light-loving plant. If sunlight not enough, the plant increases the size of its leaves. They acquire a corrugated surface, which increases total area leaf. You can also use additional lighting by placing incandescent lamps (preferably matte) with a power of 100 W at a distance of 70 cm. And fluorescent lamps with a power of 40 W - at a distance of 25-35 cm above the plant. For orange, diffused light is better. If direct scorching sunlight hits the leaves, you can move the tree a little away from the window. It is not advisable to take the orange tree out onto the balcony or into the garden. Doing this is justified only in cases where the windows in the apartment are small and the plant clearly does not have enough light.

Priming: 4 parts turf soil, 2 parts leaf soil, 1 part humus, 0.5 parts river sand. Turf soil is the main component in preparing the mixture. It's better if you take it from the garden. Thoroughly mix all the components, removing stones, glass, old roots, etc. The resulting earth mixture can be aged and used in a week or two. It is very important that the soil has a neutral or slightly acidic reaction. By the way, it is not recommended to use peat soil for planting oranges. Heavy clay soil is also unsuitable: it makes it difficult for the plant to feed and can tear its small roots.

Humidity: For orange plants, you need to give them a cool shower every 2-3 weeks to wash away dust and pests. During such showers, cover the soil in the pot from getting wet. tap water. It is also useful to wipe the leaves of plants on both sides with a soft, damp cloth. During the hot season, it is good to spray the plants 2-3 times a week with warm water from a spray bottle. After such a procedure, you should not place the plants under the scorching rays of the sun, so as not to cause burns to the leaves: after all, a drop of water on the leaves acts in much the same way as a magnifying glass - it focuses the sun’s rays.

Reproduction: Orange can be propagated by seeds, cuttings, grafting, budding, layering. The easiest way is to plant freshly extracted seeds in the ground, but such trees bloom only after 12-15 years. Amateur gardeners need to know that a seedling grown from a seed with a trunk that has reached a diameter of 6-7 mm at the base can already be grafted. However, its further cultivation is unpromising, because It is quite difficult to correctly do budding with a sleeping eye or, moreover, grafting on your own, and the lack of necessary material for novice amateur gardeners (eyes for budding and twigs for grafting taken from a fruit-bearing tree) often poses insurmountable obstacles to them. For hobbyists (especially beginners), I recommend purchasing an already grafted or rooted orange seedling. Prerequisite upon purchase, the seedling must have a closed root system.

To obtain a beautiful crown of a tree, it must be formed correctly. This operation allows for faster flowering and fruiting. The formation of the crown lasts several years. The crown should be in the form of a bush and consist of 3-4 skeletal branches located on the trunk. To do this, the shoot developing from the cutting is pinched at a height of about 20 cm so that 5 well-developed buds remain. The shoots that grow from these buds and reach a length of 20 cm are pinched. These will be the skeletal branches in the future. Branches of the 2nd-4th order should be pinched when they are 10-15 cm long. Flowers appear most often and abundantly on branches of the fourth and even fifth order. Pruning is carried out above the bud, the cut is made straight (with a sharp knife or razor. This upper bud should “look” outward). Thick branches are cut at the very base. It needs to be covered with garden varnish or natural-based paint. However, remember: the thicker the branch, the less advisable it is to prune it. So, carry out the formation of the tree crown in a timely manner. It is advisable to do pruning in the spring and as needed: remove dry branches and shoots growing inside the crown (so that pruning does not weaken the plant).

With normal development of the tree, young shoots grow simultaneously with flowering and fruiting. It is advisable to carefully pick the first 2-3 orange flowers. It is better to do this even before they bloom. This must be done so that the plant does not weaken. The orange blossoms profusely. The more ovaries are formed, the more likely it is that the fruits will grow small. By removing a small part in places where there is too much of it, fruits on the tree will be formed both with and without pollination of flowers.

Transplanting an orange is a very important moment. It must be produced as the tree develops. The age of the orange in years should approximately correspond to the size of the dish in liters. Transplantation is carried out every 2-3 years. The older the orange, the less frequently watering is stopped when preparing the tree for replanting. Due to the natural evaporation of moisture, the soil dries out somewhat, so it will be easier to replant the plant. Carefully place the pot on its side and with your hands, lightly patting its walls, carefully remove the orange tree with a lump of earth penetrated by many roots. Do not shake off all the old soil so as not to damage the small roots. In a new container, distribute the roots of the tree evenly, and then fill them with new soil, which you take with your hand and knead thoroughly before filling. There is no need to compact the soil: over time it will compact itself, then you can add more of it to the dishes.

Very important point: root collar The tree must neither be pinned nor lifted above the soil surface. After transplanting, water the plant and place it in partial shade for a week. The most suitable time for transplantation is spring. The evergreen orange periodically sheds its leaves. This is a completely normal process. If such a change of leaves occurs gradually, the leaf lives for about two years. To prevent the tree from looking one-sided, turning its entire crown towards the window (light), the pot can be gradually rotated so that in a year the pot makes only one turn.

Oranges belong to the Citrus genus. All year round, orange fruits are available to buyers from all over the world.

It happens that you want oranges, you come home, peel the peel, and the fruit is incredibly sour. Oranges, like all citrus fruits, contain a lot of vitamin C. It is this that gives sourness.

Why do oranges turn sour?

In the case of sour oranges, everything is simple. In their homeland, in Southeast Asia - China, oranges grow in the sun in soft and warm temperatures. climatic conditions, so acid rarely appears in fruits there.

1. Oranges grown in unsuitable conditions for ripening turn out to be sour and unsuitable for food. Unripe citrus, already sour in taste, becomes unbearably sour.
2. Oranges, like many fruits, are often hybrids. Crossed varieties of tangerine and pomelo are sour.

The shelf life of oranges is from 3 to 6 months. Imported oranges are stored for 2-3 months at temperatures down to -2 degrees. Chilled citrus fruits quickly deteriorate and lose their taste.

How not to make a mistake in choosing

Buyers rarely think about the possibility of purchasing unripe or simply hybrid oranges. The purchasing procedure is simple - put orange fruits in a bag, weigh them, and punch them at the checkout.

To tell if oranges are sweet, use the tips below:

1. Pay attention to the price tag. In hypermarkets, the type of product is indicated on the label where the price is indicated. The sweetest varieties are Sukkari and Mosambi.
2. Look at the variety. If it is not listed, ask the seller a question. The merchandiser must know the range of products offered.
3. Study the shape of an orange. There is an opinion that oranges with thin, difficult to peel skin are sweet - such fruit will be softer. Thick-skinned oranges are large, heavy, and give the appearance of a bulge.
4. Choose oranges with a “belly button”. We have seen oranges with a slight bulge where the stem should be - they are considered the sweetest.

What kind of citrus plants are they?

Citrus fruits belong to the rutaceae family, the orange subfamily, and the genus Citrus. They have been bred for their fragrant, vitamin-rich fruits for so long that there are almost no wild species left in nature, only cultivated ones. The homeland of citrus fruits is Southeast Asia, from where they spread throughout all tropical and subtropical regions of the globe. Citrus fruits now occupy the largest area in the Northern and Central America. The genus includes about twenty species that easily interbreed, so the number of hybrids is difficult to count. From time to time we see fruits in the store with unfamiliar names, but by appearance it is immediately clear: citrus. You can't confuse citruses with anything else.

What is hesperidium?

The fruit of plants of the citrus family is called "hesperidium". It got its name from the Hesperides, in whose garden golden apples grew. According to experts, these were oranges. Hesperidium - special variety berry-shaped fruit. Its pulp, divided into lobules, consists of juice-filled spindles, which are called juice sacs and are formed from the inner wall of the ovary. At first they look like small papillae, then they turn into multicellular hairs, then the internal cells of the hair are destroyed, and what remains is a sac filled with a solution of acids, sugars and vitamins.

Second characteristic feature hesperidium - its peel. It consists of two layers: a bright outer layer, called flavedo, from the Latin flavus - yellow, and a white albedo (albus - white). The outer layer contains many glands that secrete essential oil and is covered with a thin layer of natural wax, due to which the fruits are stored for a long time. The inner layer serves as a source of moisture for the developing hesperidium, but dries out as it matures. The drier and looser the white layer becomes, the easier the peel is separated from the pulp.

Why is there a small one inside a big orange?

This is another one unique property hesperidians. They sometimes develop a “two-story” ovary, and as a result, two twin fetuses develop. The second, small one, is visible through a small hole (navel) in the peel of a large fruit. There are even varieties of navel oranges.

What types of citrus fruits are there?

The largest representative of the genus is the citron (Citrus medica ). Its length reaches 40 cm, and its diameter is 28 cm. The peel of the citron is thick, and it itself is sour, so fresh they don't eat it. However, it was the first citrus fruit that came to Europe, apparently precisely because of its aromatic peel. The second place goes to pampelmouse, also known as sheddock and pomelo with the emphasis on the second syllable (C. grandis). Its peel is thick, from greenish to bright yellow, the pulp is sweet and sour, sometimes a little bitter, but not as much as grapefruit (C. paradisi). Some experts do not rule out that grapefruit is a mutation of pampelmousse or its hybrid with an orange.

Sweet, Chinese, or real orangeC. sinensis, perhaps the most common citrus. The adjective “orange” is derived from the French name for orange, “orange,” but oranges are also red. They are also called “kings”. The wren is slightly smaller than a regular orange, its juice contains the red pigment anthocyanin, an antioxidant, by the way, which is not typical for citrus fruits. Peeling a blood orange is more difficult than orange. There is also a sour or bitter orange, also known as orange and bigardia (C. aurantium). Really sour and bitter, but good for marmalade. A variety of orange or its hybrid with citron - thick-skinned bergamotC. bergamia. It is bred mainly as an essential oil crop; bergamot oil is considered the best of all citrus oils.

Mandarin has a huge number of cultural variantsC. reticulata, the most famous of them is clementine. It is easy to peel and cut into slices and is practically seedless. Some variants of mandarin are even distinguished as individual species. Such as, for example, tangerineC. tangerina- sweet, thin-skinned, and satsumaC. unshiu. Satsuma also has a very thin skin with large glands that secrete essential oil, and delicate flesh that requires careful handling.

Lemon C. limonfamous for its acidity and high content of vitamin C. Sailors took lemons with them on long voyages as a remedy for scurvy.

Less known is sweet lemon, or sweet lime.C. limetta. Its fruits are really sweet and juicy. Real limeC. aurantiifoliavery sour, the fruits are small, the flesh is greenish. Another sour food - yunos, or yuzuC. junos. It is a complex hybrid between several types of citrus. In Japan it is used like lemon.

What is a kumquat?

Kumquat also belongs to the citrus subfamily, but to a different genus -Fortunella. The appearance of a kumquat resembles a small orange, its taste is that of a sour tangerine. It can be eaten with the peel, it is thin and sweet. However, it crosses with real citruses; there is a hybrid of kumquat and lime - limequat. Its flesh is sweet with a hint of bitterness.

What are the benefits of citrus fruits?

Citrus pulp makes up up to 70% of the fruit's weight. It contains 1-6% acids, mainly citric, 2-8% sugars, vitamins C, P, B 1 and B 2 , carotene. The taste and color of the fruit depend on the ratio of these substances and the presence of certain additives. Tangerine, for example, contains very few acids, no more than 1%, and grapefruit pulp contains the bitter glycoside naringin. The bitterness comes from the films in which the fruit segments are enclosed, so they try to get rid of them. In addition, citrus fruits contain dietary fiber, calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, iron and phosphorus.

For us, citrus fruits are primarily tasty sources of vitamins and microelements. Vitamin PP and potassium have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the cardiovascular system as a whole and strengthening the walls of blood vessels. Carotene is good for the eyes, calcium and phosphorus salts are good for bones, nails, hair and teeth, vitamin B is good for the central and peripheral nervous system.

Grapefruit glycoside naringin and its derivative naringenin have an antisclerotic effect and help normalize weight. Grapefruit juice is useful for hypertensive patients, patients with metabolic syndrome and increased level blood sugar. Even more effective is nobiletin, a flavonoid isolated from the peel of tangerines. In general, the peel of all citrus fruits contains a large number of flavonoids, which to varying degrees have antioxidant, antifungal and antisclerotic effects, and also affect the activity of many metabolic

Processes. The flavonoid hesperidin, for example, strengthens the walls of blood vessels. Just don’t think that if you eat several kilograms of grapefruit along with white films, all diseases will go away. Any product exhibits its beneficial qualities if consumed regularly. Grapefruit, for example, you need to eat half a day, and another teaspoon of albedo.

Are citrus fruits good for everyone?

Proteins and polysaccharides of citrus fruits are strong allergens; children should be given them with caution. People with high acidity, stomach ulcers and intestinal disorders should not overeat citrus fruits, and patients with diabetes should remember the high sugar content in tangerines and oranges.

What foods go well with citrus fruits?

Sweet citruses: oranges, tangerines, pomelo and even grapefruits are beautiful on their own. They are eaten fresh, added to fruit salads and confectionery. Citrus fruits are used to make drinks (juices and lemonades), jam, marmalade and marshmallows. Jam is made from the peel - this is the most fragrant part of the fruit - and candied fruits are prepared, tinctures are made from it, and essential oil is obtained, which is used to flavor drinks and confectionery. Bitter and sour citrus fruits are sent straight to the confectionery shop. Like any fruit containing acid, citrus fruits go well with meat and fish. They decorate meat dishes, pates and pies, and make sauces from them. It is recommended to wash down fish and seafood with citrus juice and ginger. Here's a popular Italian salad: cut blood oranges and fennel root into pieces and add olive oil.

About the zest.

Zest is a spice, the dried pigmented layer of citrus peel. To prepare the zest, you must first thoroughly wash the fruit to remove wax and various substances that may have treated it. Then you need to carefully cut upper layer with a sharp knife, being careful not to grab the bottom white one. Then the peel is dried for two to three days, placed on paper, with room temperature, turning regularly. When the zest becomes brittle, it is ready. You can store it in pieces, but add it to dishes only in ground form.

The zest of orange, orange and tangerine is used to prepare sweet dishes, such as jelly, compotes, mousses, puddings and ice cream, and added to baked goods. Orange zest also adds flavor to meat gravies and goes well with poultry and fish. The range of uses for grapefruit and lemon zest is even wider. It is added to salads made from vegetables, fish and meat, as well as to all cold sauces for them. Lemon zest goes well with beets and improves the taste of cold beetroot soup and hot borscht. There is no need to boil it; add the zest to the freshly cooked soup and let it brew for three to four minutes. Lemon zest does not contain acid, which remains in the pulp, and imparts only the aroma of lemon to the dish. It is good to infuse vodka with grapefruit and lemon zest.

Zest is a mild spice, so it is added in large quantities. A piece of meat, for example, is thickly sprinkled with powder.

Artist E. Stanikova

In one of the ancient Greek myths, Hercules had to get golden fruits. Some researchers believe that we're talking about specifically about oranges - amazing fruits that can support the immune system, cleanse and tone the body.

Orange is the fruit of an evergreen tree of the citrus genus. But whether it is a fruit, it turns out, is a big question. In the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, fruits are any tree fruits that contain a lot of juice and are edible. And biologists say that oranges are multi-locular berries. As a result, oranges simultaneously belong to both fruits and berries.

The homeland of orange trees is Southeast Asia, in particular China, from where they were brought to Europe in the 15th century. Translated from German, orange means "Chinese apple." Today this plant is grown not only in Asian countries, but throughout to the globe. Until now, scientists have not found a single orange tree in wildlife. This gives reason to believe that the fruit is bred artificially. Most of the experts' guesses come down to a cross between pamelo and tangerine.

The shape of the orange is round, in some varieties it is slightly modified due to the presence of a small outgrowth on the top of the fruit in the form of another ball.

The skin of an orange is yellow, orange or dark orange, close to red. Depending on the type, it can be smooth and lumpy, thin and dense.

Orange pulp is usually juicy, sweet or sweet and sour. Although some varieties have completely sour pulp. Its color ranges from light yellow to blood red.

Orange leaves are leathery, oval in shape with a pointed tip. The crown of the tree is spherical or spherical, tapering towards the top.

Orange flowers are white and have a bright and sweet scent. The climate orange trees choose is subtropical humid. In other areas they grow weakly and produce less juicy fruits. However, even in temperate latitudes of Russia it is possible to grow fruit-bearing orange trees at home.

In the store you can find the following types of oranges.

• Ordinary - bright yellow fruits with many seeds.
• Jaffa fruits are large, juicy and sweet fruits with dense, lumpy skin.
• Umbilical oranges are oranges that have a ball-shaped appendage at the top of the fruit. The rind of navel oranges is orange, as is their flesh.
• Kings - sugar fruits small sizes. This is the so-called blood orange, because its pulp has a dark, bloody color. These fruits are the sweetest of all those presented in stores.

Composition of an orange

A whole set of vitamins, of which 100 g of the product contains the daily norm for a person of vitamin C, microelements and macroelements, dietary fiber and nutrients- all this is contained in an orange. Carbohydrates make up the majority of the nutritional elements of the fruit - over 8 g. Protein contains just under 1 g, and fat - 0.2 g.

In a diet that is so lacking in sweets, it is the orange that comes to the aid of a losing weight person. The calorie content of its fruits is only 43 calories per 100 g of product.

The vitamin complex of “Chinese apples” includes many B vitamins, among which folic acid is isolated, which allows pregnant women to eat oranges. They also contain beta-carotene, vitamins A and E, as well as a large amount ascorbic acid.

The beneficial properties of orange directly stem from its rich vitamin and mineral composition. People who are accustomed to eating oranges only as a means of preventing colds will be surprised by the effect that such an ordinary fruit has on the human body today.

Orange - beneficial properties

Doctors recommend eating oranges for children and the elderly, who especially need a full range of minerals and vitamins. And for a strong body, the Chinese fruit has a tonic, immune-supporting, and metabolic-stimulating effect.

Beneficial properties of orange

1. Beneficial effect on the digestive system. Oranges are known for inducing appetite and also stimulating the body's production of bile, which is involved in the process of breaking down food. Thus, a glass of orange juice before eating will ensure its rapid and proper absorption. Chinese fruits facilitate the digestion of fatty foods, stimulate intestinal function, and detoxify the gastrointestinal tract, removing harmful products of decay and putrefaction from the body. The value of orange in treating constipation is also known.
2. Oranges reduce blood cholesterol levels and prevent the development of cardiovascular diseases.
3. The fruits contain substances that accelerate the healing processes of wounds and ulcers, as well as kill harmful microbes in areas of skin and mucous membranes.
4. Due to the high content of vitamins in oranges, they are used in the treatment of hypovitaminosis.
5. The use of oranges is recommended for diseases such as hypertension, obesity, atherosclerosis, and gout.
6. Oranges help relieve nervous tension and its consequences - physical and psychological fatigue, sleep disturbances, and apathy. Essential oils used in the complex treatment of depression. They can also lift a person’s mood and increase their resistance to stress.
7. The substances contained in oranges destroy cancer cells that are found in every human body. As a result, the risk of cancer is reduced.

The harm of oranges

1. Oranges are contraindicated for gastritis and some other gastric diseases, as they contain a lot of acids.
2. Fruits are the strongest allergen. An allergy to oranges can develop if you eat them too often. And if you eat them regularly and in large quantities, the risk of diabetes increases.
3. Oranges destroy tooth enamel. To avoid this problem, rinse your mouth after eating the fruit or drinking orange juice.

Oranges for diabetes

Oranges are recommended for consumption when diabetes mellitus Types 1 and 2. There are only 33 of them, and all the sugar contained in these fruits is fructose and glucose. Oranges contain enough soluble plant fiber to slow down the absorption of glucose in the body. In addition, a person suffering from diseases needs additional vitamins and minerals, which an orange will provide a diabetic in large quantities.

Oranges during pregnancy

Expectant mothers are known to have the most unexpected food preferences. This is due to the fact that the pregnant woman’s body senses what elements it lacks for the proper development of the child. Oranges are frequent culprits of such sudden desires. But can pregnant women eat oranges?

Orange contains a lot of vitamin C, which will support immune system expectant mother, as well as folic acid - an essential element in the 1st trimester of pregnancy. Exactly folic acid participates in building the baby’s nervous system. Therefore, oranges are not only allowed for pregnant women, but also indicated. To avoid allergies during pregnancy, eat no more than 1 piece per day.

Application of orange

Oranges in cooking

The simplest and quick way get it from the orange healing power- squeeze out fresh fruits and drink it or just eat a Chinese fruit. Today, orange is added to many dishes. The juicy pulp makes the food taste delicious, and the smell of orange can attract even the most capricious gourmets to eat. Despite the fact that this is a sweet fruit, it is successfully combined with vegetables, meat and mayonnaise. Well, sponge and curd cakes with the addition of aromatic slices will turn into real culinary masterpieces.

Health benefits of orange

Orange is used not only for the prevention of diseases, but also for their targeted treatment.

1. Orange in combination with lemon perfectly cleanses and strengthens blood vessels and is used to prevent stroke, heart attack, and angina.
2. A tincture of grated orange peel helps relieve intense menstrual pain.
3. Inhalations with sweet orange oil soften the respiratory tract during colds and infections.
4. Tincture of orange slices helps relieve fever.
5. Freshly squeezed juice mixed with raw chicken egg, used to relieve hangover syndrome.
6. Using special orange compresses, you can reduce bleeding gums and alleviate the symptoms of stomatitis.

Orange in cosmetology

In modern cosmetology they are used as an independent product or as part of various cosmetics. Orange has the following effects on the body:

• reduces pore size and acne intensity;
• eliminates unwanted skin pigmentation, has whitening properties;
• stimulates the production of collagen, as a result of which wrinkles are smoothed out and the skin becomes more elastic;
• accelerate skin cell renewal;
• reduces the appearance of cellulite;
• moisturizes and tones the skin.

Uses of orange peel

1. Orange peel is used to prepare candied fruits, zest, jam, and medicinal infusions.
2. If your pets like to dig in flower pots or chew on leaves, place orange peels next to the plants. Cats cannot stand the orange smell. The peel will also drive away insects that live in residential buildings.
3. Essential oils contained in orange peel have a beneficial effect on nervous system, relax, relieve fatigue, help with depression. You can make your own aromatic bags with peels and hang them around your apartment.
4. The dried peel burns well in a fire, so use it to light a fireplace or stove in the village.

Oranges are loved by everyone. Many people love oranges even more than apples. And how can you compare a noble citrus fruit with some Antonovka? Meanwhile...

Until the 16th century, Europeans had no idea about oranges at all. Russians - even more so. Oranges don't grow here! And then Portuguese sailors brought from eastern countries these orange delicious balls. And they began to trade them with their neighbors. They, of course, asked: “Where did the apples come from?” - because we haven’t heard of oranges, but the shape of this fruit is similar to an apple. The traders answered honestly: “The apples are from China, Chinese!”

That's how I remember it. And oranges came to Russia from Holland. The Dutch word for apple is appel, and the Chinese word for apple is sien. Here comes the orange.

Origin of the orange

Oranges have been known to mankind since ancient times. They were first mentioned in ancient literature as early as 2400 BC. e. Later in Europe, they became elite fruits and decorated only royal meals and noble feasts. The common people were left with only the skins of juicy, bright fruits. During the Renaissance, scientists decided that oranges “warded off” the plague, and immediately attributed them to medicinal plants. It must be said that scientists were right regarding the healing properties of citrus fruits. They actually increase appetite, improve metabolism, improving digestive functions, and strengthen the body’s immune system.

Orange is indeed Asian in origin. Italy, Spain, Morocco and others Mediterranean countries, which feed half the world with citrus fruits, is, as they say, a secondary center of origin. And he got there quite late, less than five centuries ago.

The soldiers of Alexander the Great were already familiar with the orange, but they did not recognize it as good fruit. For many centuries, Europeans did not pay any attention to the orange. Here is the time and place of his arrival in Europe: 1548, Lisbon. The very quickly fragrant fruit with a noticeable orange peel became widely known, although under different names. And not only because of the amazing juiciness and unusual, memorable taste, but also because the tree bears fruit all year round, and its fruits (more precisely, multi-celled berries, since the seeds are surrounded, as in currants, by juicy pulp) are stored for a long time without any special tricks.

In the country that was formerly called the USSR, only Colchis and even the Central Asian subtropics could provide orange tree bearable living conditions; the Sochi region is already too cool for him. Selection for cold resistance has been going on for a long time, but no triumphant fanfare has yet been heard. The harvest near Batumi ripens only towards the very end of the year; the sugar in the pulp - in juice bags covered with film - is noticeably less than that of Spanish or Moroccan oranges. True, there are the same amount of vitamins and minerals.

Today, in the 21st century, you won’t surprise anyone with oranges. They can be found on store shelves all year round. And this is wonderful, because these sunny fruits are fabulously rich in vitamins C, E, B3, B6, PP, A, fiber and antioxidants, which slow down the aging process of the human body. An orange weighing about 150 grams, for example, contains not even 100, but 130% of the daily value of vitamin C. At the same time, experts from the US National Academy of Sciences are confident that only 10 mg of vitamin C per day can prevent its deficiency in the body, and one average an orange contains about 70 mg of this vitamin.

Eating oranges reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and development malignant tumors- and all thanks to the presence of phytoelements in their composition. Orange is an easily digestible product. It produces an incredible amount of heat and energy in the body immediately after consumption. This is very effective remedy for depression. The fruit is useful for hysteria, insomnia, and nervous tension.

And finally, orange is low in calories, so nutritionists strongly recommend consuming it to everyone who follows a healthy lifestyle. So, the aromatic sweets made from fresh orange peel and grated, included in the “Sweets for Slimming” line, will not harm your elegance at all, but will certainly add a bit of pleasure and health.

Orange is known to be able to prevent colds and flu. Its energy increases the body's resistance to infections and speeds up recovery. Citrus has rejuvenating properties, removes toxins and metabolic products from the body, thereby preventing aging and many diseases.

Orange reduces the effects of eating too much fast food. This conclusion was reached by endocrinologists from the University at Buffalo, USA. Research has shown that orange contains bioflavonoids that can protect and support the circulatory system.

All scientists unequivocally state: the beneficial properties apply only to natural oranges, and in no case to the dry concentrate.

Orange zest also has beneficial properties.

It is curious that oranges accumulate three times more vitamin C and ascorbic acid in the peel than in the pulp. Its colorful armor, which accounts for about a quarter of the fruit, is good in many ways. From its outer layer, called flavedo, a fragrant essential oil is extracted. The inner, white layer - albedo - is one of the richest sources of pectin, just like the white column in the middle of an orange.

Pectins, firstly, are beneficial for digestion, and secondly, they promote elimination from the body harmful substances; These two advantages would be enough, but there is also a third: they give culinary products a special consistency, tender and durable at the same time. It is thanks to pectin that orange jams and marmalades are so good.

The zealous housewife also finds in the skin of an orange cut with a knife various applications: in pies, candied fruits, cocktails, apple jam, and even in the wardrobe - it is believed that dried peels repel moths. Public opinion leans towards thin-skinned oranges, orange or red. In the latter case, oranges are quite officially called kings (their flesh is usually red), and in the first - ordinary oranges. There is a third type - navel oranges, large, sweet, very tasty. However, many are confused by the navel, the underdeveloped second fruit at the top. Many - but not those who have at least once tasted such an orange.

An orange picked in the fall in the spring may not be as juicy as before, but it is almost certainly sweeter, because the ratio of sugar to acid gradually increases during storage. But what’s even more surprising is that sometimes (alas, not always) an orange gains vitamin C while lying down. If it loses it, it’s not so much that it falls in our eyes. You can’t just win second place in the world among fruits, but losing to an apple is not at all shameful...

However, did you know that one (!) orange, in terms of the content of this most valuable substance, replaces several kilograms of potatoes?

Fans of fruit growing know that on one tree you can grow different varieties and even different types fruits However, this is not simple amateurism. The so-called “two-story citrus culture” proposed by the Sukhumi citrus breeder N.V. Ryndin has been brilliantly justified in practice, as original method additional accelerated receipt of oranges. This method allows you to replant with oranges those citrus plantings that for some reason have low yields. You can turn into orange trees those tangerines that are planted in warm areas suitable for oranges. And vice versa: where lemons are planted in places that are not warm enough, they are often damaged by frost and therefore do not bear fruit - they can also be regrafted with oranges. In this way, in two to three months we can increase by 10-15 times the number of scarce imported oranges we have. To do this, in June it is necessary to graft the eye of a high-grade orange into the crown of the tangerine, which by the budding season, i.e., by August, grows into a powerful branch. The practice of “two-story culture” of oranges on the crown of tangerines has revealed many major advantages. Grafting an orange onto a huge rootstock that is more frost-resistant tangerine tree significantly increases the frost resistance of oranges, the fruits ripen earlier and have a sweeter taste and brighter color than oranges with conventional cultivation.

Instructions on how to find out how many slices are in an orange, tangerine or lemon before peeling it:

First, tear off the tail of the orange;

in the resulting recess, we count the number of small holes - their number is the number of slices in the orange: through them the orange absorbs juices into its slices;

propose a bet that you will guess how many slices are in an orange before you peel it;

you win the argument :)

Based on materials from iqfun.ru, lakomie.ru