The smell of orange blossom that surrounds and characterises the city of Seville is easily recognisable. It defines the Andalusian capital and it gives Seville its identity.

The orange trees are one of the most abundant trees in the Sevillian countryside. Its fruits and foliage are responsible for the brightness and light of its green meadows.When talking about the history of oranges, it is inevitable to talk about the tree of the golden apples.

According to Greek mythology, bitter oranges have always been linked to the region of Andalusia, especially with its capital.

Hercules, founder of Seville according to Greek legends, was entrusted by the king of Tirinto, Euristeo, to perform 12 different works. These tasks included different trips to various remote places.

The eleventh task was to bring down the dragon Thief to get the “Golden Apple” of the Garden of Hesperides in Northern Africa, linked to oranges by its bright colour which was believed to grant immortality. During the battle, Hercules fed on oranges, which gave him enough strength to fulfil the mission.

Beyond mythology, the history of oranges is based on their adaptability to different climates and terrains. This citrus, originally from Asia, was considered as a symbol of happiness and necessary to reach the state of spiritual and physical satisfaction.

Thanks to the attraction and interest that this fruit produced in Genoese sailors and merchants, oranges were introduced into Europe through the Silk Road. After that, and with the aim to achieve the desired happiness, the Arabs planted thousands of them throughout the south of the peninsula.

In the 12th century, the well-known “Patio de los Naranjos” was built, which is currently located inside the Cathedral of Seville, inheritance from the Almohad mosque.

Admired by the beauty of its bright fruits and attracted by the unique smell of its flowers, the orange plantations amounted to more than five thousand in 1970. In this way and despite its Asian origin, bitter oranges have become one of the most representative trademarks of the Andalusian capital.

As time went by, numerous cosmetic and medicinal properties of bitter oranges were discovered. Moreover, the Arab tradition and passion for fragrances focused on the smell of orange blossom.

Bioflavonoids are biologically active polyphenolic compounds naturally found in the peel and pulp of some citrus fruits. Each of these fruits contains a composition and proportion of bioflavonoids characteristic of its type, which gives it specific properties and benefits.

Bitter oranges are a natural source of the bioflavonoids Neohesperidin and Citrus Bioflavonoid Complex.

Neohesperidin dihydrochalcone is a whitish crystalline powder with a sweetening capacity of up to 1800 times greater than sucrose, making it ideal to use as a tabletop sweetener or in the composition of soft drinks, alcoholic beverages and confectionery such as desserts, ice cream and dairy products, chewing gums and other jelly beans, oral hygiene and pharmaceuticals products.

It also has other organoleptic properties as a masker of bad flavours and enhancer of these which are highly sought-after.

As far as the animal feed industry is concerned, this product leads to a reduction in the animals ́ feed intake time due to its pleasant taste.

Another flavonoid present in orange bigarade is the Citrus Bioflavonoid Complex. This yellowish-brown powder comprises 45% of flavonoids and has a very characteristic bitter orange flavour.

In the food, beverage and animal nutrition industries, it is widely used as a natural flavouring and preservative agent. In addition, thanks to its antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, it is incorporated into formulations of nutraceutical supplements and human and animal health products.

On the other hand, Sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) naturally contains two other bioflavonoids: Diosmin and Hesperidin.

Diosmin is a grey-yellow or light-yellow flavonoid, key in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Known for its cardioprotective effect, it is used in the pharmaceutical industry to treat symptoms related to venous insufficiency such as capillary and vascular fragility, the relief of swelling and tired legs as well as migraines and haemorrhoids.

Hesperidin is a beige powder that thanks to its cardioprotective effect and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, is combined with diosmin to produce synergistic effect in the treatment of vascular diseases. Additionally, it is used in combination with vitamin C in dietary supplements.

Another citrus that contains many flavonoids is Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi). Naringin is a light-yellow powder flavonoid responsible for the bitter citrus fruits so appreciated for the formulation of carbonated drinks and bakery and confectionery products.

Similarly to the rest of the flavonoids, it has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. In addition to having a cardioprotective effect, this bioflavonoid promotes thermogenesis. For all of these reasons, Naringin is incorporated into supplement formulations in certain diets for weight loss.

In the food and animal welfare industries, this flavonoid is deemed worthy of attention to increase the palatability of feed products.

Without any doubt, the bitter oranges of Seville are our most demanded product, although thanks to our tradition, savoir-faire and commitment to our customers, the market has positioned us as leaders in the manufacture and export of conventional and organic fruit derivatives.