The aroma of citrus fruits is fresh, intense and delicious. In general, it is invigorating and energising.

Regardless of the origin or culture of the people, citrus scents are always among the favourite scents.

You have before you a small collection of these citrus fruits. Some, like lemon or orange, we know perfectly well, but... Do you know the Japanese mandarin or yuzu? The Buddha's hand? Citron?

Delight yourself with the fresh citrus aromas and look for the small nuances that differentiate them. You can also learn more with the texts explaining the origins and uses of each type.

Oenological visit:

Oranges, lemons, citrons, citron fruit, yuzu and bergamot belong to the aromatic family of citrus fruits.
citrus aromatic family, a family of primary aromas, present in white wines, especially in the youngest ones, as they are fresh and fruity aromas, although we can also find them in botrytised wines, such as sauternes, in muscatel, reminiscent of candied orange. Lemon is a characteristic aroma of the Riesling variety.

Riesling, as well as we find it in Albariño and Sauvignon Blanc from the new world.

Posters:

Citrus aromas have all the energy of a ray of sunshine, they are fresh, intense and delicious. They are intensely aromatic flowering plants. Full of pure strength, they invite to play and action. Citrus fruits are one of the fruits most consumed by mankind, as their vitamin C content is essential for our diet. They are used in cooking in juice or using their peel for flavouring.

Greek mythology tells us of the existence of a "Golden Apple Tree", which was the jewel of the mythological Garden of the Hesperides. This tree, which was guarded by Ladon, a dragon-serpent, was represented as an orange or lemon tree. Eurystheus, king of Mycenae, commissioned Hercules with 12 tasks, including the theft of the golden apples, i.e. the lemons or oranges. The demigod obtained the fruits, after defeating and chaining Ladon.

The genus Citrus, whose common term is citrus, designates the species of large evergreen shrubs or bushes (between 5 and 15 m) whose fruits, of the Rutaceae family, have a high content of vitamin C and citric acid, which gives them their characteristic sour taste. Native to tropical Asia, this genus contains three species and numerous cultivated hybrids, including the most widely traded fruits, such as lemon, orange, lime, grapefruit and mandarin, with several varieties depending on the region in which each is grown.

Of oriental origin (China), they were imported by the Arab culture to Spain 14 centuries ago and, since then, citrus fruits have been closely linked to the Mediterranean diet, especially lemons, due to their high disinfectant power. It is said to cure more than 200 diseases. It is a very ancient tree that the Romans already used as an air freshener and natural insecticide.

Citrus fruits are plants loaded with highly aromatic essential oils; these oils are found in glands made up of special cells that secrete them. These glands are distributed throughout the plant in the leaves, flowers and are particularly concentrated in the rinds of the fruits; for this reason, citrus fruits have traditionally been (and continue to be) widely used in cosmetics and perfumery.

YUZU: Yuzu is a Japanese citrus fruit with an aroma similar to that of the mandarin but much more intense. Its main attraction is the power and aroma of the skin. It has been the most widely used citrus fruit in Japanese cuisine for over 1000 years. Yuzu is a hybrid of mandarin but yellow in colour with a complex sulphurous flavour, with notes of clove and oregano.

LEMON: The origin of lemons is totally unknown. It is thought to be a hybrid of lime and citron. It is a hybrid species Citrus Médica (citron or French lemon) and Citrus Aurantium (bitter orange). Although other authors believe that it is the result of various backcrosses between Citrus Médica and Citrus Aurantifolia. The first wild lemon trees are found in India and the Indo-Malay archipelago.

BERGAMOT: Bergamot is the fruit of a citrus fruit called bergamot, very aromatic, whose essence is used in perfumery. Bergamot is a tree of the Rutaceae family, which is the result of the grafting of lime and bitter orange, forming the hybrid bergamot (Citrus bergamia), originally from Persia. It is cultivated in almost all subtropical regions for its juicy, edible fruit and its medicinal properties. It stimulates, normalises the nervous system, strengthens self-confidence, refreshes and lifts the spirit. It helps to overcome feelings of loneliness, sadness and pain. For depressions that need stimulation to start the day, it balances the emotions, regulates appetite due to anxiety, restores self-confidence, inspires and restores thoughts of love (baths, massages, inhalations, direct application with balsam).

BUDA'S HAND: Buddha's Hand, a citrus fruit unknown in Europe and America, is documented from the time of the Roman Empire where it was used as a medicinal product, until they discovered its qualities for cooking. The aroma is very similar to that of citron. It has hints of lemon and orange blossom that make it unique. It is widely used for medicinal, digestive and expectorant purposes.

CIDRA: The first fruits known in Europe around 310 (B.C.) belonged to the citron group (Citrus médica L). The plant is also known as "Cidro" or "Cidrera", and the fruit "Cidras" or "Ponciles" if they are elongated and "Toronjas" if they are globular. It may have been the first citrus fruit to reach Europe during the campaigns of Alexander the Great in 300 B.C. It is one of the few pure citrus species truly recognised in the genus Citrus by experts, as the other citrus fruits are usually hybrids resulting from crosses between different varieties. In fact it is considered the "father" of all lemons. The aroma is intense and fresh, closer to that of a lemon, but more perfumed. In gastronomy, citron is traditionally used in confectionery due to its particular and fragrant aroma.

ORANGE: The sweet orange tree is considered the most important and the most cultivated of all citrus fruits. It is followed by mandarins, lemons, grapefruits, limes and kumquats. The bitter orange tree is cultivated as an ornamental tree used for fragrances, not to be confused with the sweet orange tree. Oranges are the fruit of the sweet orange tree, a tree belonging to the genus Citrus of the Rutaceae family. This family includes more than 1,600 species.