What is the largest citrus fruit. What types of mandarin hybrids exist

All citrus fruits are valuable source vitamin C, as well as other beneficial trace elements and nutrients. Culinary Application citrus fruits are very diverse: juice, zest, pulp - everything goes into business. Obtained from the peel of the fruit fragrant oil, zest and juice season the most different dishes, and the pulp of some citrus fruits is eaten as an independent dessert.

From the citrus encyclopedia prepared by us, you will learn about some representatives of this unique family. It's quite large, and over time we hope to tell you about all of them.

Bergamot or bergamot orange ( bergamot = bergamot orange) - a small sour orange, in culinary purposes used, for the most part, only the zest. Don't confuse this citrus fruit with the herb of the same name. Lime can be used as a substitute for bergamot.

Blood or pigment orange ( blood orange = pigmented orange) - these oranges with red flesh are most popular in Europe, they are less known in other countries. They go on sale in winter and spring. You can replace the blood orange with regular oranges or tangerines.

Buddha Fingers or Finger Citron ( Buddha"shandcitron=Buddha"sfingerscitron=fingeredcitron) - Very fragrant fruit original form, resembling fingers, has practically no flesh, but consists only of the skin, from which candied fruits are prepared. In cooking, it is often replaced with citron or lemon.

grapefruit) is a large, slightly pungent species of the citrus family. The peel is usually yellow with a green or red tint. Grapefruit flesh can be red, pink or white color(more precisely, a cream shade). The color of the pulp does not affect the aroma and taste of grapefruit. When buying a grapefruit, choose not the largest and rather heavy fruits for their size. Some varieties of grapefruit are seedless. The best grapefruits can be purchased in winter and spring. Grapefruit can be replaced with ugli fruit, which is more fragrant, pomelo, which is less acidic and pungent, or tangelo, a hybrid of mandarin and grapefruit.

Kaffirlime =jerukpurut =leechlime =limaupurut =magrood=makroot=Makrut) - Thai chefs use this fruit to give dishes a special and strong flavor. Kaffir lime contains very little juice, so for the most part only the zest is used. Replaced with citron, lime, or kaffir lime leaves (1 tablespoon of kaffir lime peel is equivalent to 6 kaffir lime leaves). Used in Thai, Indonesian and Cambodian cuisine.

Musk lime

Calamansi or Musk Lime ( kalamansi = kalamansi lime = calamansi = calamansi lime = musk lime = musklime) - Very sour citrus, shaped like a small round lime, and tasting something in between a lemon and a tangerine. Very popular in the Philippines. Replaced with calamondin, lemon or mandarin.

keylime =Floridakeylime =Mexicanlime) is much smaller and much more sour in taste than a regular Persian lime. Juicy fruit with big amount seeds. Many chefs even prefer bottled Mexican lime juice. fresh juice Persian limes for cooking. An adequate replacement is lime.

kumquat) - resemble oranges the size of grapes. Unlike most citrus fruits, kumquats are eaten whole, including the skin. Slightly sour in taste, but very aromatic. Originally from China, where they are considered a symbol of good luck and prosperity. Replaced with limequats, calamondins and Seville oranges (for marmalade).

Lemon - very sour citrus fruit rarely eaten on its own, but its juice, zest and peel are widely used. From one lemon, on average, you can squeeze 2-3 tablespoons of juice. There are many varieties of lemon: eureka, which is most often found on sale, Lisbon lemon ( lisbon lemon), which is smaller than the Eureka and smoother, the Meyer lemon ( meyer lemon), which is becoming increasingly popular for its more pleasant taste. What to replace: in pies - with grapefruit, in soups and marinades - with lemon grass (lemongrass), in the rest - with lime or citron, if only peel and zest are required.

These pungent green fruits are similar to lemons, but are more acidic and have a distinct, unique flavor. Many varieties of lime include the Persian lime ( Persian lime) and Mexican lime ( Mexican lime). When buying limes, look for dark green small limes that are heavy for their size. 1 lime makes about 2 tablespoons of juice. Can be replaced with lemon (but then you should use more lemon juice or zest, because lemon is less acidic than lime) or calamansi.

limequat) is a hybrid of lime and kumquat. Similar in shape and size to the kumquat, but with a green or yellow-green skin. Has a strong lime flavor. Depending on your culinary goals, the limequat can be substituted for kumquat or lime.

tangerine orange) - has a very pleasant aroma, but their biggest plus is that they are very easy to clean. Variety of cultivars includes mandarin ( tangerine), juicy honey tangerine ( honey tangerine = Murcott), satsuma ( satsuma orange), sweet and tiny clementines ( clementine orange), tangerines with orange flavor ( temple orange). Replaced by: oranges.

meyer lemon) - tastes more pleasant than ordinary lemon, therefore it is highly valued by gourmet chefs. It can be quite difficult to find in stores. You can substitute a simple lemon.

Every person in his life has come across citrus fruits, which our planet is so rich in. We use this type of fruit in Everyday life every day, we just don't always think about it. They are mainly used for food fresh, as dessert dishes, in the form of supplements or spices. Many people use citrus tree oils for massage or aromatherapy, while taking a bath, their antiseptic properties are great for fighting skin diseases. A huge amount of vitamin C, which is rich in any kind of citrus, makes them popular and useful at the same time. In this article, we will consider those fruits that can not only be bought on the free market, but also, if desired, grown at home as houseplants. Let's not forget to take care of them.

As a separate type of citrus plant, it developed for a very long time, therefore it is considered a hybrid. Its size is small, usually has a light yellow color, in some places it is green, oblong in shape, narrowed towards the ends. One of the most acidic and common fruits around the world, and they use it all - juice, zest and peel.

Lemon has found wide application in cooking, it is almost impossible for them to spoil fish dishes, all types of meat, and desserts with zest or juice always look exquisite on the table. Different kinds drinks with its help gain freshness and muffle cloying, alcoholic cocktails are a success. Essential oils fruits are successfully used in medicine and cosmetology.

Growing a lemon at home is easy: usually a tree sprouts from an ordinary mature seed in suitable soil. But care must be strict: temperature regime, daylight hours, air humidity in the room - all this must be observed when growing lemon on your own.

Orange

This fruit is in no way inferior to lemon in popularity. He is large and has round shape and most often orange. They eat it on their own, the fruit inside is divided into slices, which are perfectly separated from each other. The beneficial properties of an orange go off scale: it has a beneficial effect on the digestive and cardiovascular system. It goes well in drinks, as well as desserts, there are a huge number of jam recipes.

Mandarin

A fruit without which Christmas holidays are not imagined. In many ways it resembles an orange, but it has a small size and a flattened shape, a sweeter pronounced taste, and the fact that it is easy to peel is a pleasant addition. very much, like other citrus fruits, it is great for baking, desserts and refreshing drinks.

Lime

This citrus fruit is green in color with a pleasant specific aroma, sour in taste, sometimes even bitter. Small in size, approximately egg. And one of the subspecies of lime is pursha, but outwardly they cannot be distinguished. Most often it is used in cooking in Asian countries, and the variety of dishes with lime is huge - from soups and salads to desserts and drinks. All over the world this fruit serves chic decoration variety of cocktails. IN healing properties it is also not inferior to its relatives - in addition to the standard useful properties, it has a beneficial effect on the teeth.

A very similar citrus plant to the lime is the limequat. It is a hybrid between lime and kumquat. Limequat is similar in flavor to lime, usually also green in color, but it tastes more like lemon. Very juicy, but the flesh has bitterness, and the peel, surprisingly, on the contrary, is very sweet. Limequat can easily replace lime and lemon for cooking, if those are not available.

Desserts are very exotic, namely pies and puddings, and limequat zest is mainly used for meringues.

This plant is very unpretentious, therefore it is very popular, besides limequat is not afraid of cold weather, and gives its first fruits at a very early age. At home, it will not be difficult to grow it, since it does not need special care, and beautiful view This citrus fruit will decorate any home.

pomelo

Another name for this fruit is pompelmus. It is the pomelo that is considered the largest citrus fruit. In terms of taste, it is very similar to grapefruit, but its peel is bright yellow and quite thick, so it takes a lot of effort to peel the pomelo. Inside, the fruit, like an orange, is divided into slices, between which there are white separating tissues, very bitter in taste, but useful for the human stomach.

The flesh itself can be different in color: red, yellow or even green. Unlike an orange, a pomelo is not such a juicy fruit, so getting a lot of juice from one fruit will not work. One of the most valuable properties pomelo is energy-intensive: one fruit can replace an adult full breakfast and energize for the whole day. It is consumed raw, candied fruit and jam are made, pomelo is rarely used for drinks and desserts. This fruit got its distribution in China. Moreover, for the inhabitants of this country, the fruit of this tree is considered a good gift especially on New Year's Eve.

Kumquat

Outwardly, it resembles dwarf ornamental oranges, the fruits are so small that they can be compared with grapes. It is the same color as an orange, and the peel is thin and fleshy, tasting like a tangerine, but with a slight sourness. The biggest advantage is that the kumquat can be eaten whole without peeling. Inside you can find several slices of the fruit, as well as a couple of seeds.

This citrus fruit is considered very nutritious, therefore it has been valued by many nations for a very long time.

Can serve on the table beautiful decoration, adds unique taste in salads and desserts, it is perfectly used in the preparation of marmalade, jams and sauces. And if

Hello readers and guests of our! We all know the handsome orange and the fragrant companion of the New Year - mandarin. Do you know what citrus fruits are?

There are many representatives of citrus fruits, and they taste different: something sweeter, something sour, more often sweetness and acidity are combined. But they are all very juicy and remarkably refreshing.

Here are 10 known or lesser known varieties of vitamin bombs.

Kumquat

This smallest fruit in the citrus family can be eaten with the skin on.

When buying, you should pay attention to it - it should be strong, smooth and shiny. Otherwise, the fruit may not be fresh.

In addition to fresh use, exotic kumquat is good as delicious ingredient in sauce for poultry or lamb, as well as in salads.

exotic kumquat

Mandarin

The most juicy and easy to peel. Seedless fruits are most in demand.

Fragrant tangerines can be sweeter or sourer depending on the variety: for example sweet variety Honey or seedless Clementine and Unshiu.

New Year's symbol tangerine

Orange

This is a classic citrus fruit. Recognized by a thick and dense "cellulite" crust. The taste of orange is sweet and sour.

Useful as one of the most available sources vitamin C, which is perfectly preserved in it until the next season. What can not be said about other popular fruits - for example, by March-April, only about 40% of the valuable vitamin remains in apples (read more about).

Orange more often than other citrus fruits appears on our table

King orange or red orange

It tastes like an orange with notes of tangerine, grapes and pomegranate, that is, again, sweet and sour.

The color of the pulp is very unusual for citrus fruits - dark red, sometimes almost purple. The size of the beetle resembles a tangerine.

Unusual red orange

pomelo

A giant in the citrus family, since its weight can reach up to 10 kilograms. Under the thick shell hides spicy pulp with slight bitterness.

It tastes sweeter when the skin is slightly wrinkled. The color of the pulp is from light green to yellow.

Citrus giant pomelo

Lemon

Decorate almost any dish. Salad, soup, main course, drink or dessert will benefit from the addition of lemon or its sour juice. This is a good natural antiseptic, so lemon is not only food, but also a way to clean the kitchen board of germs.

However, the popular one, alas, does not burn fat, but the stomach and tooth enamel. As with any citrus fruit, lemon contains many organic acids that are aggressive towards body tissues (when consumed in large quantities, of course).

sunny lemon

Lime

Squeezed fruit juice enriches the taste of soups and sauces. Zest looks great and adds flavor to cakes, smoothies, and desserts. Small, round, green-skinned limes are more fragrant and tastier.

tropical fruit lime

Bergamot

Never seen? Maybe. But, most likely, they have already tried it: Earl Gray tea has its characteristic aroma. Sometimes it is an integral part of perfumery and cosmetics.

Bergamot - thought it was tea? Turns out it's a fruit.

Pomeranian

It is not eaten raw due to its bitterness, but is added to orange jams. Like all citrus fruits, pomegranate enriches the taste of baked goods.

Growing on the island of Curacao, bitter orange is added to orange liqueur named after the island.

Pomeranian is bitter, but adorns drinks and desserts

Grapefruit

For those who like a slightly bitter taste. Not as tart and slightly sweeter than pink grapefruit.

By the way, this is a hybrid of pomelo and orange. Once Sophia Loren herself mentioned that this bitter citrus helps her control her weight.

Dangerous for Medication Users: Citrus fruits can increase the effects of some drug ingredients in an unpredictable way. More about this in our other article "?" - everything that concerns grapefruit juice, fully applies to the grapefruit itself.

bittersweet grapefruit

These are the main representatives of the family. Currently, there are a lot of hybrid fruits. And all these vitamin bombs, charged huge amount Vitamin C are very beneficial for health.

So eat oranges and don't forget the pomelo, treat yourself to a tangerine, indulge in a lime, surprise yourself with a kumquat, and be healthy!

Mini Tips for Weight Loss

    Reduce portions by a third - that's what will help to build! Short and to the point :)

    Put supplements or stop? When this question arises, it is definitely time to stop eating. This body gives you a signal about imminent saturation, otherwise you would have no doubt.

    If you tend to overeat in the evenings, take a warm shower before dinner. 5-7 minutes, and you already have a completely different mood and attitude to food. Try it - it works.

    No matter how tasty the food is, you will eat it many more times. This is not the last meal of your life! Remind yourself of this when you feel like you can't stop and are convulsively swallowing piece after piece.

You won’t surprise us with citrus fruits - many people add lemon to tea every day, and they buy tangerines not only on New Year. But the citrus family is not limited to these fruits. There are many fragrant fruits in the world that you may not have tried or even heard of. Our today's selection is about a dozen citrus novelties.

This citrus was obtained in 1914 by crossing a tangerine and a grapefruit. The fruit turned out to be a little larger than a grapefruit, but it tastes more like a mixture of tangerine and lemon. Agli has sweet juicy flesh and wrinkled greenish-yellow skin. It is grown mainly in the USA, Florida, so if you are passing through there - try it!

2. Bergamot

It turns out that this is not only a flavor for tea, but also citrus, obtained by crossing citron and orange. It has a sour but pleasant taste. Bergamot, unlike most citrus fruits, is eaten only in processed form - it is used to make jam, jam, marmalade.

3. Gayanima

The fruit comes from the wild places of India. It has sour taste, thanks to which the inhabitants of South India even use it for pickling. Gayanima peel has a specific aroma, reminiscent of the smell of ginger or eucalyptus.

4. Clementine

A hybrid citrus bred in Algeria in 1902 by the French priest Father Clement (hence the name). Reminiscent of tangerine, has a pleasant taste, is bred mainly in Mediterranean countries(the same Algeria, Spain, Italy, Morocco).

5. Natsudaidai

Unlike its decorative counterpart called kikudaidai, which is also grown in Japan, natsudaidai is completely edible - it is a hybrid of sour orange (orange) and pomelo. True, it is much more acidic than these fruits. This plant was discovered in the garden of Yamaguchi Prefecture in the 17th century, and since then natsudaidai has been the symbol of the prefecture of this city.

6. Finger lime

It is completely different from the lime that has become familiar to us! It is sometimes called citrus caviar - for the multi-colored pulp, consisting of elastic small particles, and really resembling caviar. There are many varieties of finger limes, and outwardly these oval-shaped fruits resemble colorful cucumbers. This fruit is most popular in Australia: local chefs actively use it in cooking, adding finger lime to salads and even soups, served as a side dish, garnishing meat and fish dishes with pulp.

7. Ponkan (suntara)

In fact, this is a tangerine, which, however, in terms of taste and nutritional qualities surpasses any tangerines and their hybrids. The pulp of ripe fruits is orange, juicy, sweet, with a large number of seeds. Not only fruits are used for food, but also leaves - from them it turns out fragrant tea which perfectly quenches thirst.

8. Hassaku

It is also a variety of mandarin, which nevertheless does not resemble mandarin either in smell or taste: it resembles an orange, mandarin and grapefruit at the same time and has a sweet-sour taste with a slight bitterness. Want to try? I'll have to go to Japan, to Hiroshima Prefecture. Interestingly, they are not eaten immediately after being removed from the branches - hassaku fruits should lie down for a month or two in a dark place, or even on the ground or sand. This is how this citrus gets its sweetness.

9. Naranjilla

The plant comes from the foothills of the Andes, but you can try these fruits not only there, but also in Costa Rica, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador. It is a 1.5-2 m high shrub that looks so attractive that it is used as an ornamental plant for greenhouses and gardens. Its fruits look like small oranges, but their amazing taste reminiscent of a mixture of pineapple, passion fruit and strawberries. The inside of the naranjilla fruit contains many creamy white seeds similar to tomato seeds.

10. Lemon Feronia (wood apple, Persian lemon)

Another citrus comes from India, which is distinguished by large fruits (up to 12 cm) with a hard, “wooden” peel. In appearance, the pulp is unattractive, but its taste is excellent - feronia can be both sweet and sour.

So when you travel, don't forget to try local exotic citruses, which are unlikely to be found in our supermarkets.

Citrus is a genus of evergreen trees and shrubs in the Rutaceae family. The list of citrus fruits is quite long. They are used not only in cooking, but also in perfumery. Not everyone knows about their rich variety: many have not even heard of the bizarre names of some citrus fruits. Combines their benefits and pleasant, fresh smells.

All citruses have a rich composition with many useful substances.

The benefits of citrus

Representatives of the Rutov family can easily replenish the menu healthy eating and make the taste of many dishes brighter.

Different types of citrus fruits have useful properties thanks to the composition. They contain:

  • organic acids;
  • vitamins (C, B, E, PP, B2, A);
  • essential oils;
  • mineral salts;
  • calcium, copper, phosphorus and iron.

Brief description of all species of the genus

Despite many similarities, citrus fruit varieties also have differences, and each of them is used for its intended purpose. To help them provide positive impact on the body, it is enough to determine which types of citrus fruits will be more useful for a person at the moment.

Agli, or uglifruit

Combines the properties of mandarin, orange and grapefruit. Its name comes from the English word "ugly" ("ugly"). The fruit looks unappetizing: it has a yellow-green wrinkled peel. But on the inside, agli, like many citrus fruits, is sweet. The taste has shades of light grapefruit bitterness. There are no bones in the pulp. A ripe uglyfruit fruit, 10–15 cm in diameter, is usually quite heavy for its size. Citrus is popular in Western Europe.

Remember: if, after pressing on the peel of the coalfruit, deep depressions form on it, it began to deteriorate.

Orange

Refers to hybrids and was obtained as a result of natural crossing of pomelo and mandarin. The fruit was first discovered in China. Orange is one of the sweetest citrus fruits. In addition to its juiciness, it has the ability to have a beneficial tonic effect on the body, cheer up and improve the digestive tract. There are about 100 varieties of oranges in the world.

Lemon

The brightest representative of the Rutov family. It appeared as a result of crossing lime and citron. There is a version that lemon is a descendant of orange and lime. This citrus is native to South Asia. The acidity of lemon species depends on the conditions in which they grow. The benefits of this fruit are:

  • the presence of a large amount of vitamin C;
  • the ability to enhance the taste of dishes;
  • rendering beneficial influence on the liver, stomach and intestines.

Lemons are the most popular citrus in the world.

Mandarin

The symbol of the New Year, familiar to everyone since childhood, is divided into many varieties: the color of some can be pale yellow, while others can be bright orange.

Mandarin participated in the "birth" of many hybrids. Among them are natsumikan, tangelo and calamondin.

The fruit is able to increase the overall tone of the body. For many gardeners, the fact that tangerine trees are more frost-resistant than others is important. citrus plants, but along with all the pluses, there is one minus: its excessive use can cause allergies.

Red orange, or "kinglet"

The result of the mutation of an ordinary orange in vivo. The people called it "bloody" because of its deep red flesh. There are also specimens with light red flesh. The fruits of this plant have bright taste, do not have bones, easy to clean. Red orange is an ingredient in various fine dining and included in many diets. For the first time, the "kinglet" was found in Sicily.

A genus of evergreens. It was obtained by crossing citron and orange. The tree is distinguished by a lush crown and the presence of leathery oblong-ovate leaves. Bergamot has low palatability: the fruits of the plant are sour and bitter. But he, like all types of citrus fruits, has exquisite fragrance, so the fruit is widely used in perfumery. Bergamot was brought from Southeast Asia.

Bergamot is similar to lime, but has a specific smell.

Gayanima

The fruit is a hybrid of citron and lemon. The tree is hardy and requires little maintenance, and its branches are covered with long thorns (2–4 cm). The leaves are large and shiny. Gayanima fruit has a smooth lemon-yellow skin. The pulp of the fruit is different pleasant smell, but very sour in taste, so it is often used for marinades. Inside the fetus is a large number of small seeds. Gayanima grows only in India.

Grapefruit

It is a descendant of orange and pomelo. The name of this citrus fruit was composed of two English words"grape" (grapes) and "fruit". It is explained by the fact that citrus fruits are often collected in bunches similar to grapes. A ripe grapefruit weighs 300–500 g.

Not everyone likes a fruit that has a bitter taste, but real gourmets often prefer this type of tart citrus fruit. The grains of the fruit can be either yellow or red.. The saturation of the color of the pulp indicates the ripeness of the grapefruit. This fruit was first discovered in Barbados, and then in Jamaica.

The smallest representative of the Rutov family. The tree is also small - 1.5 m in height. The fruit is oval with rounded edges. Its peel is dense, but chewed easily and has a sweet taste. Kumquat is consumed fresh, and can also be part of various sauces. Its homeland is southeast Asia.

Kumquat can be eaten with peel

pomelo

Refers to citrus. The fruit comes from China. Compared to other representatives of this group - it is very large. The maximum weight of a pomelo is 10 kg, but on the shelves of Russian supermarkets, there are mostly specimens weighing no more than 1.5 kg. The pulp is light yellow color It has sweet taste. Pomelo zest is yellow and green.

Lime

The green "brother" of the lemon. Its main purpose is to spice up the taste of desserts and cocktails. Small round fruits are superior in quality to large ones. Lime was first spotted on the island of Malacca. The leaves of this plant are valued in cooking because of their aroma. Like all citrus fruits, lime is rich in various vitamins.

Pomeranian

A bitter variety of orange. A hybrid of mandarin and pomelo. Fresh citrus is not consumed, it is used in cooking for making jams and marmalade. Pomeranian is grown as an ornamental plant. Its fruits exude nice smell; in appearance they are round with a wrinkled yellow-orange skin with spots of light red. Essential oils of orange are often used in medicine, perfumery and cosmetology. Citrus is native to Asia.

Yemeni Citron (Estrog)

A special sweet variety of citron with a very thick skin. It has little pulp. Its peculiarity is the absence of a sign that unites all other citrus fruits - a pronounced pleasant aroma.

Ugly looks like a suite

Karna

It is a hybrid of lemon and orange. The fruit has an unpleasant sour and at the same time bitter taste. There is practically no smell. The pulp of citrus is used to make marmalade and candied fruits. Karna is used in medicine as a cure for many diseases. internal organs. This fruit is grown in India and China.

A complete list of citrus species contains many varieties that are native to Japan.

Dekopon

According to some experts, it is a hybrid of two types of tangerines. The fruit is larger than a normal tangerine and has an elongated top. The pulp is juicy and sweet. A striking advantage of dekopon is the absence of seeds. The peel of the fruit is orange, thick and bumpy. Citrus is low calorie.

Yekan

It arose as a result of crossing a mandarin and a pomelo. By size, weight and color of the fruit this species citrus fruit resembles grapefruit, but there is also a significant difference: the pulp of the yekan has a more pleasant taste.

This variety includes both tangerines and oranges. These are very sweet-tasting, seedless fruits. They are added to various desserts and consumed fresh. Mikan is often canned and made into juice.

Mikan - Japanese tangerines

Kikudaidai

Appeared as a result of crossing orange and grapefruit. Kikudadai belongs to the types of inedible citrus fruits: its fruits have a bitter-sour taste, so a beautiful plant usually performs only a decorative function.

Natsudaidai

Natural hybrid of pomelo and orange. The peel is dense, yellow. Natsudaidai is sour in taste, but it is consumed fresh. The hallmark of this fruit is high content it contains folic acid.

Similar posts