This peel or rind is a part of the fruit well-known for its aromatic qualities, with intense and enveloping notes. The pericarp, cut into herbal teas, allows for a bitter-tasting infusion, considered useful as a bitter tonic in the digestive process and to promote proper intestinal transit. Bitter orange pericarp: properties and benefits. Due to its flavor, the peel of the bitter fruit has digestive benefits and is an appetite stimulant.
It promotes regular gastrointestinal motility, protecting the stomach during digestion. It promotes the elimination of gastrointestinal gas, with its carminative properties (the ability to promote the expulsion of gas and relieve related pain). An infusion of the peels can also be a natural support for conditions such as bloating, feelings of fullness, and loss of appetite. Some plant compounds in the bitter orange, including those found in the peel, are useful for soothing digestive irritation, such as limonene.
The pericarp contains vitamin C and flavonoids that act as antioxidants – protecting our body's well-being.
Origins and History of Cultivation
The bitter orange is a plant likely native to Southeast Asia or India, where it developed as a hybrid between a pomelo and a mandarin. It now grows as an independent plant, and is now widespread in many countries, including Europe, southwest Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
A well-known variety is the Seville orange, rich in pectin and suitable for making jams. It was introduced to Italy by the Arabs in the Middle Ages and is widespread in Sicily. It is a citrus fruit with many uses, although its pulp is too bitter to be edible. It is cultivated both for food (mainly used to make candied fruit or jam) and to extract its essential oil—useful in the perfume industry as a flavoring or solvent. The essential oil is also used as a flavoring for food, and the peel (pericarp of the bitter orange) is known in cooking for the preparation of bitter liqueurs such as Curaçao or Triple Sec.
The bitter orange is also highly valued as a supplement in herbal medicine, extracting plant compounds from the unripe fruit and dried peel.
Plant and Flowers
The bitter orange (Citrus × aurantium) is a tree belonging to the Rutaceae family. It is an evergreen tree with small thorns, broad, green leaves, and large, fragrant white flowers. It is cold-resistant and produces orange or green fruits with a rougher, more intensely colored peel than the sweet orange (Citrus x sinensis). Its orange flesh is bitter and tart. It is an evergreen tree with small, broad leaves and large, very fragrant white flowers.
Nutritional Values of Bitter Orange Pericarp
Nutritionally, orange peel contains active ingredients such as vitamin C, limonene, myrcene, and flavonoids.
How to Use Bitter Orange Pericarp in Herbal Tea
A pericarp infusion is made by placing about 3-5 grams of the peel cut into a cup (250 ml) with water at 100°C.
Leave to steep for the time indicated on the package before drinking the herbal tea. Add honey or sugar, if desired.
Bitter orange pericarp: side effects and contraindications
To avoid adverse effects, it is necessary to follow the recommended dose. Excessive consumption may cause side effects, including heartburn, diarrhea, and increased heart rate. This herbal tea may interact with some medications; consult your doctor before use if you have any cardiovascular conditions. Bitter orange is not recommended for children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding women.
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