Seville Oranges
One of Seville’s most amazing attractions can be enjoyed free of charge as you walk the streets: more than 25,000 spread to all corners of the city with a great ornamental value that gives identity to Seville, both visual and olfactory.
The smell of azahar (orange blossoms) pervades the whole city when spring comes. Bitter orange trees decorate the streets and infuse this incredible city.
In fact, these ornamental, bitter orange trees outnumber every other species of tree in the city of Seville. They have become emblematic of this southern capital city and their fruits have even become known throughout the World as “Seville Oranges”.
The visual impact of Sevillian orange trees in the city is undeniable. When spring comes and the trees blossom, its decorate the streets with the orange of the fruits, the white of its flowers and the dark green of the evergreen.
Why are there so many orange trees in Seville?
The orange trees and its blossom were praised by Moorish poets during Spain’s Islamic history and its bitter variety has graced the streets of Seville (and many other Andalusian towns) as long as anyone remembers. Possibly it was chosen not only for its pungent fragrance, but also because it stays nice and green year round, providing shade in summer and thick swashes of lush green to line the streets in winter time.
Tourist when they first arrive to Seville often gaze in dismay at oranges lying in the streets just waiting to be swept away by municipal street cleaners. Doesn’t anyone want to eat them? The fact is that the fruit of the Citrus aurantium (bitter orange) is so bitter you wouldn’t want to eat it them.
However, the fruit – along with the leaves and flowers – do have other useful uses.
Bitter oranges are perfect for making marmalade because they have higher pectin content than sweet oranges. The fruits of the Seville Orange, therefore, probably lie in the street mainly because locals are just too busy to put on their aprons and whip out pots of fresh marmalade.
The flowers of the bitter orange tree are used to produce essences for aromatherapy and the leaves have long been used for medicinal purposes. In fact they were first used in Asia where the plan originates. In Chinese medicine herbal preparations made from bitter orange leaves and fruit rinds were used to treat intestinal problems, including constipation.
Purpose of Orange Trees in Seville
Besides the main ornamental value and identity of the city, bitter orange is appreciated by various industries, for example cosmetics and of course to make the famous bitter orange marmalade.
Until the end of the Middle Ages, the uses were based primarily on medical issues. The main asset of the tree were flowers, from which oils and healing essences were produced.
But the great aroma of azahar led the Arabs to want to make Seville a world center of perfume, like Damascus or Baghdad.
Today, each year, only a small portion of the 25,000 orange-trees in Seville is used efficiently, mostly for marmalade. Many of the remaining fallen oranges are picked up by public services in order to keep the city clean.
One company in Seville (Bendita Luz) is recovering this local resource and its transforming this wonderful fruit into a high-quality, naturally produced cosmetic product.
A cosmetic that guarantees, through daily use, healthy, strong and beautiful skin. Products that respect the environment throughout the manufacturing process.
In Costa Excursions we are big fans and we love all the products that Bendita Luz produces and that is why we highly recommend them to all of our customers and readers.
How to tell if an orange is sweet or bitter
There is a very simple trick to know if an orange is sweet or bitter. Just pulll a leaf from the orange tree, if the leaf has a tail it means that the orange is bitter. Simple!!
Bitter Orange Products
You have put together two different kits for your enyoyment. You can order these kits from us.
Bitter Orange Products
This kit has the following products
Bitter orange lip protector
Properties:
Nourishes and repairs cracked, dry or damaged lips.
Reduces irritation. Protects from external irritants (cold, wind, excessive sun exposure …), and the damaging effects of free radicals responsible for aging.
Repaired and protected lips regain softness, flexibility and comfort.
Indications:
For all skin types.
Suggested use:
For daily cleaning, body care. For external use Only.
Paraben free.
Seville’s bitter orange essential oil Hand cream
Properties:
Hand cream with Seville’s bitter orange essential oil that moisturizes, protects and regenerates your hands. It leaves your hands soft, silky and delicately perfumed. Easy absorption providing immediate comfort. For external use Only.
Paraben free.
Indications:
For all skin types.
Suggested use:
For daily cleaning, body care.
Seville’s bitter orange essential oil Body Lotion
Properties:
Body lotion with Seville’s bitter orange essential oil, that moisturizes the skin through a combination of Shea butter, aloe Vera juice and Urea to improve skin tone, providing vitality, freshness and softness.
It contains vitamin E and it is natural antioxidant. Easy absorption providing immediate comfort. For external use Only.
Paraben free.
Indications:
For all skin types.
Suggested use:
For daily cleaning, body care.
Oil soap Seville with bitter orange blossom petals
Properties:
Facial cleaner and body scrub.
Its high concentration of essential oil of orange Bitter provides hydration and radiance to your skin.
Exfoliated and silky skin with orange blossom petals that regenerate your skin not aggressively. Prevent the first lines.
Antiseptic ideal for cleaning your skin deeply. Contains vitamin E, natural antioxidant, coconut oil and essential olive oil.
Indications:
For all skin types.
Suggested use:
For daily cleaning, facial and body care.
[ec_product productid=”3″ style=”1″]
Orange Blossom Products
This kit has the following products
Orange Blossom Hand Cream
Properties:
Hand cream with Seville`s orange blossom that moisturizes, protects and regenerates your hands. It leaves your hands soft, silky and delicately perfumed. Easy absorption providing immediate comfort.
Indications:
For all skin types.
Suggested use:
For daily cleaning.
Orange Blossom Body Splash
Properties:
Aromatic and fresh.
Indications:
For all skin types.
Suggested use:
For daily use.
Orange Blossom and Olive Oil Soap
Properties:
Its high concentration of olive oil provides hydration and radiance to your skin. Olive leaves exfoliate and regenerate your skin gently and leave it feeling silky. Is promotes healing, eliminate acne problems, keeps the skin young and elastic. Natural antioxidant. Contains coconut oil and orange blossom fragance. Active ingredients: glucoiside (oleuropein) and tannins.
Indications:
For all skin types.
Suggested use:
For daily cleaning, facial and body care.
[ec_product productid=”4″ style=”1″]
