A close look at a variety of citrus fruits on a wooden surface. Who sanguinello blood orange’t love the tangy, Vitamin C-imbued fruity goodness that describes the many varieties of citrus fruit? The perfect combination of sweet and sour, this class of fruit is the most favored and sought after in the entire world.
Citruses are so beloved that humans have created dozens of delicious varieties. The citrus family is native to the tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and the Malay Archipelago. The large varieties of citrus fruit we see today evolved from tiny berries over millions of years. The first member of the citrus family came to Europe around 310 BC and remained as the only citrus fruit there for several centuries. During that time, it is believed that limes, lemons, and oranges were gaining popularity in Italy. 27 varieties of oranges and other citrus fruit. All modern-day citrus fruit that we see today were hybridized from three original species — mandarin orange, pomelo, and citron.
The common citrus fruit, including lemons, grapefruit, and oranges, were all created by crossing these three original species. Take a look at some of the most common types of citrus. Also known as sweet orange, this species of citrus is a hybrid of a pomelo and a mandarin. The juicy fruit grows in tropical and subtropical climates and has been around for millennia. The earliest written record of oranges was found in Chinese literature from 314 B. In 1987, it was found that oranges were the most cultivated fruit in the world.