Nostalgic Aromas
The family of citrons—or, more commonly, citrus fruits—intertwines life with tradition. Their juicy winter fruits beautifully adorn and perfume every corner of the Greek countryside. Oranges from Argos, lemons from Poros, mandarins from the Kampos of Chios, citrons from Naxos, exotic kumquats from Corfu… all come together in distinctive culinary creations, blending perfectly into spoon sweets and fragrant marmalades.
Send me a citron-lemon, I’ll send you a mandarin
The Christmas rustle and the scent of citrus drifting through the streets awaken nostalgic memories of spring, homecoming, and sweet return… Just like the days when you gathered the first fruits from the bitter orange, orange, and lemon trees so that your grandmother could make spoon sweets to treat visitors—but above all, to treat you. Or when your mother decorated the little wreath for the school gymnastics show with lemon blossoms, and you danced in the music of the traditional folk song mentioning the bushy bitter orange or the short lemon tree. Or those mornings when your mother’s warm, bergamot-scented hand would wake you up gently… Later, as you delighted in your first readings, “drinking Corinthian sun... with Elytis, and the lemon trees irrigating the pollen of midsummer, and Vrettakos’ mothers speaking from within Sparta's orange trees,” and when, amid the sweet notes of blooming bitter orange trees, you found your own Ark— your kivotos.
Myth, Tradition, Immortality
The origins of citrus, so distant and mysterious, weave myths and shape life across the ages. Although citrus fruits were first cultivated in Asia, in Greek mythology they are linked with Hesperia, the far West of early antiquity. This connection begins with the mythical Hesperides of Hesiod (Works and Days 275), who tended Hera’s Garden in distant Hesperia, where the “golden apples”—or, according to some historians, oranges or lemons—grew. These fruits, the myth says, granted immortality to those who tasted them, yet at the same time they were transformed into the deadly fruit of Discord, which became the spark for the much-sung and world-renowned Trojan War following the Judgment of Paris.
Health and Wellness
The connection of the Hesperides’ “golden apples” with immortality likely alludes to the healing properties of citrus fruits—benefits that modern science confirms every day. Their high vitamin C content is especially valuable because it enhances iron absorption in the human body and helps prevent scurvy.
At the same time, scientific studies confirm that their compounds provide an exceptional anticancer shield and help prevent cardiovascular diseases. The citric acid naturally present in citrus fruits has long been one of the most important preservatives for foods and beverages. Finally, when combined chemically with metals, citric acid becomes a key ingredient in soaps and detergents.
Tsitsibira, a unique flavour from the Ionian Islands, is an excellent accompaniment to a meal. Today, it is produced only on Corfu. It is made from lemon juice, natural lemon oil, grated ginger, water, and sugar. These ingredients are “fermented” to create the distinctive sparkling beverage, which matures in the bottle and serves as a delightful digestive at the end of a festive Christmas feast.
The family of citrons—or, more commonly, citrus fruits—intertwines life with tradition. Their juicy winter fruits beautifully adorn and perfume every corner of the Greek countryside. Oranges from Argos, lemons from Poros, mandarins from the Kampos of Chios, citrons from Naxos, exotic kumquats from Corfu… all come together in distinctive culinary creations, blending perfectly into spoon sweets and fragrant marmalades.
Send me a citron-lemon, I’ll send you a mandarin
The Christmas rustle and the scent of citrus drifting through the streets awaken nostalgic memories of spring, homecoming, and sweet return… Just like the days when you gathered the first fruits from the bitter orange, orange, and lemon trees so that your grandmother could make spoon sweets to treat visitors—but above all, to treat you. Or when your mother decorated the little wreath for the school gymnastics show with lemon blossoms, and you danced in the music of the traditional folk song mentioning the bushy bitter orange or the short lemon tree. Or those mornings when your mother’s warm, bergamot-scented hand would wake you up gently… Later, as you delighted in your first readings, “drinking Corinthian sun... with Elytis, and the lemon trees irrigating the pollen of midsummer, and Vrettakos’ mothers speaking from within Sparta's orange trees,” and when, amid the sweet notes of blooming bitter orange trees, you found your own Ark— your kivotos.
Myth, Tradition, Immortality
The origins of citrus, so distant and mysterious, weave myths and shape life across the ages. Although citrus fruits were first cultivated in Asia, in Greek mythology they are linked with Hesperia, the far West of early antiquity. This connection begins with the mythical Hesperides of Hesiod (Works and Days 275), who tended Hera’s Garden in distant Hesperia, where the “golden apples”—or, according to some historians, oranges or lemons—grew. These fruits, the myth says, granted immortality to those who tasted them, yet at the same time they were transformed into the deadly fruit of Discord, which became the spark for the much-sung and world-renowned Trojan War following the Judgment of Paris.
Health and Wellness
The connection of the Hesperides’ “golden apples” with immortality likely alludes to the healing properties of citrus fruits—benefits that modern science confirms every day. Their high vitamin C content is especially valuable because it enhances iron absorption in the human body and helps prevent scurvy.
At the same time, scientific studies confirm that their compounds provide an exceptional anticancer shield and help prevent cardiovascular diseases. The citric acid naturally present in citrus fruits has long been one of the most important preservatives for foods and beverages. Finally, when combined chemically with metals, citric acid becomes a key ingredient in soaps and detergents.
Tsitsibira, a unique flavour from the Ionian Islands, is an excellent accompaniment to a meal. Today, it is produced only on Corfu. It is made from lemon juice, natural lemon oil, grated ginger, water, and sugar. These ingredients are “fermented” to create the distinctive sparkling beverage, which matures in the bottle and serves as a delightful digestive at the end of a festive Christmas feast.
