[Sca-cooks] Blood oranges, etc.

[Johnna Holloway]

The problem with all citrus fruit is trying to determine
exactly what is being talked about. From my book
on the topic and the research that went into it---
Sweet oranges, according to a number of sources,
were around in the 15th century. Then about 1520
the Portuguese brought back another even sweeter orange.
Then in the mid-18th century we have the British coming along with
yet another sweet orange.

There's a romatic story that links blood ornages with the Crusades but
at best they seem to be a 17th century mutation from probably Sicily.

One thing is for certain is that there were a number of varieties that 
were being
grown in the past that we never see in our supermarkets.
In the late 17th-early 18th centuries the Medici commissioned a series 
of paintings
of what was being grown on their estates. The artist was Bartolomeo Bimbi.
Taking a look at his paintings of fruits and vegetables is rather amazing.
[And I am not talking about the monstrous aspects either
http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/2002/slideshow/slide-163-15.shtm ]

See http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/2002/slideshow/slide-163-14.htm
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/history/lecture39/32.html
or browse the History of Horticulture course for more details. See 
lecture 39.
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/history/default.html

Hope this helps,

Johnnae

ranvaig at columbus.rr.com wrote:

>> Do we have any evidence that blood oranges are period, and if so that 
>> they are period in Europe? Sweet oranges only reach Europe near the 
>> end of our period? A quick web search finds the claim that they are 
>> "most likely the result of a mutation that occurred in 17th century 
>> Sicily."
>>
> Good point, I had seen them discussed here and took it for granted 
> that they were period, but it doesn't seem to be so.  Thank you.
>
> Ranvaig
>