The many faces of Seville's bitter oranges

When I came to Seville, I saw things through a marmalade lens

Bitter oranges are a symbol of the city, tightly woven into its fabric. They're everywhere from tattoos to fridge magnets.

For all their abundance, bitter oranges don't often appear in local food traditions. But their presence acts as a window to a rich past.

Seeded in grardens of Al-Andalus by way of ancient trade routes

Chosen through the centuries to grace courtyards and streets, finding symbiosis with 18th century marmalade makers.

Tens of thousands of trees now punctuate the year in Seville: The increasing temp of ripe oranges thudding on the ground...

...gives way to a flurry of activity from the annual street orange harvest

...followed by the sweet, fleeting scent of azahar (orange blossom)

All a touchstone, connecting the city through a citrus sensory rhythm.

Works Cited

• Hyman, C. (2013). Oranges: A Global History. Reaktion Books. 

• Lazlo, P. (2007). Citrus: A History. The University of Chicago Press. 

• Olivia, S. R., & Bonells, J. E. (1996). El Naranjo Amargo de Sevilla. https://www.sevilla.org/servicios/medio-ambiente-parques-jardines/e-articulos-tecnicos/naranjo_amargo.pdf 

• Moriarty, D. J. (1929). International Trade in Citrus Fruits. U.S. Government Printing Office. 

• Mezquita-Catedral de Córdoba. (n.d.). Patio de los Naranjos. https://mezquita-catedraldecordoba.es/en/descubre-el-monumento/el-edificio/patio-de-los-naranjos/ 

• Ayuntamiento de Sevilla. (n.d.). Árboles Singulares de Sevilla. https://www.sevilla.org/servicios/medio-ambiente-parques-jardines/arboles-singulares-de-sevilla/guia-interactiva 

  
  

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Alex Badescu is a British-Romanian writer and creative, specialising in the world of food and drink. She is drawn to areas of intersection and pulls from her background in natural sciences, distilling, and art to explore connectivity within gastronomy. Alex is the founder of ‘CHEERS TO...’ – an upcoming publication focused on drinks and culture. She is also a long-time marmalade-maker and is currently working on a short film about citrus.You can find her on instagram @alexbadart and @alexbdistilling.