A luxury citrus fruit
It's no secret that theorange belongs to the citrus family, such as lemon, grapefruit, clementine or even bergamot. However, it is distinguished by its size and color, as well as by its flavor both sweet and slightly tangy. Presumably originating in China and preceded in time by its cousin of the bitter orange (from another type of orange tree, the bitter orange tree), sweet orange appeared in Europe around the 15th century with great success: its benefits, its sweetness and its taste zesty seduce all palaces and in particular those of aristocrats and kings, who even went so far as to build orangeries to grow it in containers. Before becoming democratized in the middle of the 20th century,orange was a luxury fruit, particularly considered a wonderful Christmas gift.
A multitude of variations
This juicy citrus offers many possibilities of use. Delicious plain, alone or in fruit salad, it also perfectly complements savory dishes – from meat to fish and vegetables – as well as sweet dishes (think desserts and other pastries). It is also the most consumed fruit in the world in the form of juice. Did you know? To cook orange wedges and cut them into what we call “supreme”, we strip them of their skin, but also of the thin white and bitter layer which surrounds them, baptized for its part the “zist”. Theorange goes harmoniously with mint and dried fruits, such as dates and prunes. And what about its irresistible pairing with chocolate, particularly candied and available in orangettes ?
Candied or jam, the orange reveals its benefits
To achieve these famous candied fruits, in the form of whole slices or sticks, we take great care to always keep orange peel. Renowned for its nutrients and their benefits, it adds a slight touch of bitterness to the treat which delicately balances with the sweetness of the orangettes. The bark oforange, also ideal for making marmalades and other jams (taking care to leave succulent pieces), can also be used in different forms: just dried, grated, reduced to powder and even infused. Irresistible in certain teas, it enhances Kusmi Tea's Euphoria blend (accompanied by mate and chocolate), as well as the famous Tsarevna, the house's emblematic Christmas recipe (where it is accompanied by vanilla, almonds and spices).
And if we put theorange in the spotlight on our tables, to enliven our festive evenings and offer us a concentrate of sunshine while waiting for the return of sunny days?