Bitter orange
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For the fruit known as "Chinese Bitter Orange," see Trifoliate orange.
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| Citrus aurantium L. |
The name "bitter orange" refers to a citrus tree (Citrus aurantium) and its fruit. Many varieties of bitter oranges are used for their essential oil, which is used in perfume and as a flavoring. They are also used in herbal medicine. Other names include sour orange, bigarade orange and Seville orange.
[edit] Varieties
- Citrus aurantium subsp. amara is a spiny evergreen tree native to southern Vietnam but widely cultivated. It is used as grafting stock for citrus trees, in marmalade, and in the liqueurs Triple sec, Grand Marnier and Curaçao. It is also cultivated for the essential oil expressed from the fruit, and for neroli oil and orange flower water, which are distilled from the flowers.
- Seville orange (or bigarade) is a widely-known, extremely tart orange now grown throughout the Mediterranean region. It has a thick, dimpled skin and is prized for making marmalade, being higher in pectin than the sweet orange, and therefore giving a better set and a higher yield. It is also used in compotes and for orange-flavored liqueurs.
- Bergamot orange, C. aurantium subsp. bergamia is cultivated in Italy for the production of bergamot oil, a component of many brands of perfume and tea.
- Chinotto, from the myrtle-leaved orange tree, C. aurantium var. myrtifolia, native to Italy
- Daidai, C. aurantium var. daidai, used in Chinese medicine and Japanese New Year celebrations.
[edit] Health supplement status
The extract of bitter orange (and bitter orange peel) has been used in dietary supplements as an aid to fat loss and as an appetite suppressant, although it is not recommended for use in isolation (in traditional Chinese medicine, it is always prescribed in concert with other support herbs). Bitter orange contains synephrine, a drug similar to ephedrine, acting as a stimulant (β3 agonist) with a possible risk of ischemic stroke and heart problems.
