Color Me Orange
Tarte au Citron and Baked Alaska Tropicana
If you look closely at Da Vinci’s Last Supper, you will see a lot of fruit on the table that looks like oranges.
Although one of the oldest foods in the world, oranges were not cultivated in the Middle East until around the 9th century. Leonardo was a very smart guy, and would have known that. What coded information was he trying to convey?
Originally native to Southeastern Asia, 20 million years ago, it is believed that few changes, other than progressive evolution, have occurred since the original “citrus sinensis” was the snack food of T Rex.
By 4,000 BC, oranges were grown in Mesopotamia, Egypt and Greece. One of Hercules Twelve Tasks involved obtaining “golden apples” (oranges) from the giant, Atlas.
Orange trees bear fruit and flowers at the same time. In ancient times, this was seen as a symbol of fertility and virginity, and is why orange blossoms are associated with weddings, even today.
As the popularity of the juicy fruit crept across Europe, enterprising growers were experimenting with new planting methods. One of which was the orangerie, a Renaissance type of greenhouse. In 1617, the orangerie at the Palace of the Louvre was erected. This spectacular structure housed orange trees in tubs, enabling the trees to survive the cold Parisian winters, and was not surpassed in beauty and efficacy until the development of the modern greenhouse in the 1840’s.
For many centuries, orangeries were quite the thing; and not merely a place for plants, but often the venue for an important party.
In 1824, when Lafayette returned to the USA, a party in his honor was held in the orangerie at Clermont Manor in New York State. It lasted until 3am. Perhaps they were consuming more than just orange juice.
18th century missionaries introduced oranges to California. The colorful fruit was expensive, and usually only enjoyed by the general public on special occasions such as Christmas.
By the 20th century sophisticated methods of transportation changed that. Oranges now affordable became plentiful for everyone.
The ancients had used oranges for medicinal purposes: toothaches, contraception, digestive problems and sedatives - for use when the contraceptives didn’t work?
Now, there are many applications for both the fruit and the peel. Peels are candied, fed to livestock, and used for scenting of soaps and liqueurs. The oil is used in furniture polish and room deodorizers.
This is not a new idea however. The pomander, an orange stuck with cloves, used to mask bad smells, goes back to Elizabethan times, and was often sold by vendors outside the Globe Theatre - of Shakespearian fame.
Inside the theatre, Beatrice, in Much Ado About Nothing, speaks of the popular fruit, “civil as an orange”. However, if the play stunk, oranges were thrown at the writer and the cast!
What a waste. Oranges are one of the absolute best foods we can eat. One plump orb contains only 80 calories and 130% of the RDV of vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that protects us from the adverse effects of stress, pollution and disease. They are also a good source of folate, a valuable player in the prevention of birth defects and heart disease.
And that peel, it’s not just good for cattle and cordials; it is a sensational flavor enhancer. Grate the rind before peeling, and store in the freezer in a small plastic bag. Use it for flavoring baked goods, salad dressings, stews and marinades.
So, what was it that Da Vinci was hinting at? I think it was a cry for help. All those oranges and no juicer!