Orange County

The sweet orange does not occur in the wild. It is believed to have been first cultivated in southern China, northeastern India, or perhaps southeastern Asia. Italian traders have introduced it to the Mediterranean area around  1450 and then Portuguese navigators have been credited with bringing orange trees to the Mediterranean region around 1500. 

After introduction of the sweet orange, it was quickly adopted as an edible fruit; it was so highly regarded that wealthy persons grew oranges in private conservatories, called orangeries. 

Portuguese, Spanish and Dutch sailors planted citrus trees along trade routes to prevent scurvy. On his second voyage in 1493, Christopher Columbus took the seeds of oranges, lemons and citrons to Haiti and the Caribbean. Many orange groves were established by grafting the sweet orange onto sour orange rootstocks.

The orange blossom, is highly fragrant and the petals are an important component in the making of perfume, rosewater for food items. It is  traditionally associated with good fortune and has long been popular in bridal bouquets and head wreaths for weddings. Fallen blossoms are also dried and then used to make tea.

Orange blossom honey is produced by putting beehives in the citrus groves during bloom, which also pollinates seeded citrus varieties. Orange blossom honey is highly prized, and tastes much like orange.

Here is a recipe for simple Orange Juice:

Ingredients:

# 4 Oranges
# 4 Ice cubes (optional)
# Mint leaves or thin orange slices, for garnish (optional)


Method:
Lightly smack each orange on the counter. Cut each one in half. Squeeze into a glass. You may also use a citrus reamer to do this. If you want less pulp, use a hand juicer with a strainer. 

Here is a recipe for Orange Smoothie:

Ingredients:

# 2 cups fresh squeezed orange juice
# 1/4 cup pineapple
# 1/4 cup milk / young coconut milk
# 1/2 cup of natural yogurt
# 1 banana
# 3 ice cubes
# Mint leaves or thin orange slices, for garnish, optional


Method:

In a blender, whip the orange juice, pineapple, yogurt, milk and banana until smooth. Serve in tall glasses, garnished with an orange slice and mint leaf, if desired.

Orange juice is a a vital element of your breakfast and a popular beverage made by extraction from the fresh fruit, by desiccation and subsequent reconstitution of dried juice, or by concentration of the juice and the subsequent addition of water to the concentrate. Orange juice containing pulp seems to be more nutritious than other varieties due to the flavonoids contained in the pulp. Orange juice should always be fresh squeezed to get the best out of it.

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