Description
The Cítricos Valencianos PGI are the fruits or orange trees from the Citrus siennsis L. species, from Navel and Blancas groups; the mandarins from the Citrus reticultata bianco species, from Satsuma, Clementine groups and hybrids; the lemon from the Citrus limon L. species of Verna and Fino varieties.
Production Area
The production area of Cítricos Valencianos PGI covers many municipal areas in the districts of Castellón, Valencia and Alicante in the Autonomous Community of Valencia.
Production Method
Generally, the plantations are intensive and mostly consist of low trees subject to artificial irrigation, due to the scarce rainfalls in the area. The plantations require a number of workers due to the numerous and necessary special and maintenance treatments. The citrus fruits are harvested and conditioned during maturation with high attention to not damage them.
Appearance and Flavour
The oranges have a diameter from 67 to 96 mm and mandarins from 54 to 74 mm, while lemons from 48 to 67 mm.
History
The origins of Cítricos Valencianos PGI date back to the 14th century; indeed, there are a lot of historic documents confirming the importance of this product. A lot of written documents can be found in 1340, 1494 and 1570 which speaks of the Valencia citrus fruits which include precious historic data. The first commercial plantations for the fresh consumption go back to the 18th century and have been largely extended in time.
Gastronomy
The citrus fruits must be stored in dry and fresh rooms. The Cítricos Valencianos PGI are suitable for fresh consumption and juices. The peels can be used to aromatize sweets and recipes. The citrus fruits are also used as ingredients for many dishes like sauces, seasoning for salads and to flavour meat, fish, chicken and duck dishes giving them a special characteristic. It is also used to prepare many desserts, ice-creams and marmalades.
Marketing
The product is sold only as Cítricos Valencianos PGI in the following classes: Extra and I. The Cítricos Valencianos PGI is sold in boxes of 2.5 to 20 kg or bags of 1 to 4 kg.
Distinctive Features
The Mediterranean climate and the alluvial grounds give the Cítricos Valencianos PGI their unique characteristics. The peculiar climate of the Valencia area, with mild temperatures during the night and hot temperatures during the day, gives citrus fruits the perfect balance between acidity and sweetness.
