Sour, bitter or Seville orange
Family Rutaceae
Citrus aurantium, the sour, bitter or Seville orange (C. aurantium 1), is an up to 10 m high tree with slender thorns and broadly winged petioles. The large axillary borne flowers are very fragrant with 20-25 stamens.
Use
The orange-red fruit of the sour orange contains a very sour and bitter pulp, which is highly regarded for making marmalade, and as flavouring and in liqueur (Curacao).
True oil of neroli or neroli bigarade, is distilled from the flowers and is used in perfumery. Bergamot oil is derived from the variety Citrus aurantium var. bergamia, the bergamot. It has a soft sweet odour and is extensively used for scenting soaps and in perfumes. It is also used for flavouring tobacco.
The sour orange is mainly cultivated in Spain, where it was introduced by the Arabs, probably in the 11th century, 5 centuries before the introduction of the sweet orange. Other producing countries are South Africa, India and the West Indies.