Mallorca and the Celebration of Oranges

azahar

• (Castilian) IPA^(key): /a.θaˈaɾ/, /aˈθaɾ/

White flower, especially from the orange tree. From Spanish Arabic azzahár, and this from Classic Arabic zahr, flowers

The Naranjo or the Orange Tree is is one of the few trees that carry fruit and flower at the same time.

This time of year it is a sensuous delight to travel, maybe with the old train from Palma to Soller and go walking in the valley of Soller.

http://www.trendesoller.com/en/cms.php

 The valley is full of the scent of orange blossom and the trees speckled with white blossoms are rich with the orange harvest. Everything at this time of year is about the oranges. Every bar serves fresh pressed orange juice, cases of oranges are for sale every where even the petrol stations and there are even Orange Fiestas.

We all get busy thinking about what we can make with this abundance of fruit and are usually busy exchanging recipes. From the most fabulous thick cut Orange Marmalades to a Orange Peel and Chorizo favourite from Nigellas recipes

http://www.nigella.com/recipes/view/spanish-chicken-with-chorizo-and-potatoes-5160

 ,

to homemade Orangeade

http://thetiptoefairy.com/blog/2013/11/make-orangeade.html

At Gaia every year we get so inspired that we come up with lots of Orange product ideas. 

Neroli is the essential oil from the leaf of the orange tree. It is especially invigorating and up lifting which is exactly what we need at the end of the winter. We use it in our Bath Bombs and our Bath Salts both of which are both very popular for foot baths to hydrate feet and get them ready to be seen in sandals again!

  

  http://www.gaia-natural-mallorca.com/gaia-natural-bath-sa

Recently we have been inspired to bring back together all the scents from the Orange tree and blended a scent which is made up from all the essential oils of the Orange tree. The orange blossom, the leaf and the stem. The scent truly embraces you and we have called it 'Harmony'. We have used it in the Soya Massage Candle and the Harmony Roll.

http://www.gaia-natural-mallorca.com/travel-roll-on.html

Finally with spring in the air and lots of un sprayed oranges to be found every where, there are the        SOAPS!
The orange peel goes a wonderful translucent colour when grated onto the soaps at the end of the production as a finishing touch. It acts as a slight abrasive and is helpful with removing cooking smells from the hands.

            http://gaiabathtime.blogspot.com.es/2012/03/taller-de-elaboration-de-jabon-un-gran.html

We made some soaps for a young couple getting married in Britain who have fond memories and connection with Mallorca. Charlie and Emily 's soaps had the scent of Oranges and the label carried this quote by Jaques Prevert 

"An orange on the table, your dress on the rug, and you in my bed, sweet present of the present, cool of night, warmth of my life." 

 Charlie &  Emily  Sweet Orange Wedding Soap
http://gaiabathtime.blogspot.com.es/2013/03/gaia-natural-at-love-event-at-son-brull.html

As you can see Oranges go a long way here in Mallorca. Maybe send us your ideas and photos of things you have done with Oranges ! 

trudi@gaia-natural-mallorca.com

http://www.gaia-natural-mallorca.com

The Joy of Oranges. A do it yourself Handscrub and an Orange Marmalade recipe

"An orange on the table, your dress on the rug, and you in my bed, sweet present of the present, cool of night, warmth of my life." 

Jaques Prevert (1900-1977)

Infuse your winter days with the brightness of the orange in all its forms - peel it and enjoy each of its tangy segments fresh, rejoice in the shade of  its tree and let the fragrant essence of its blossoms fill your bedroom as the sun goes down.

There´s simply no other scent so uplifting as the essential oils of the citruses.

As I have been admiring the Mallorcan orange trees laden with fruits, we thought of sharing one of our special Gaia recipies with you which you can easily make at home.


For your Gaia Orange Blossom Hand Scrub you will need:

90 ml of vegetable glycerine
45 g of Corn flour
20 g of oats
20 g of ground rice
15 ml of chamomile water / chamomile infusion
5 g of grated organic orange skin
3 ml of orange essential oil
1 ml of grapefruit seed extract as a preservative (optional)

Blend together the glycerin with the oats, rice and corn flour. Slowly add your chamomile water and blend well. finally add in your orange skin with the essential oil and the grapefruit seed extract. You may need to re blend before each use as the cornflour will settle after a few days. This delicious hand scrub will cleanse your hands beautifully, leave them super soft and smelling heavenly!If you just want to buy a jar or even just try it pass by our shop Gaia Bathtime in Calle Corderia 28 and ask Rosa to show it to you!
Read more about it on
http://gaiabathtime.blogspot.com.es/2012/03/orange-blossom-hand-scrub-membrillo.html

If you are lucky enough to own your own Orange Grove and are very rich inOrnages why not try my friend Agnes s Marmalade recipe!

Agnes´s Orange Marmalade for Happy Mornings

Bring the  joy of orange into your kitchen. Start with a trip to Soller, stroll through its hills and valleys filled with the fragrance of orange blossom. Fill your woven blasket with hand-picked oranges.

Decorate your kitchen with the bright colour of the orange.

On a happy morning as the sun enters through the window, start cooking!

3 kg organic oranges

1 lemon

1 small piece of ginger

1 cinnamon stick

few cloves 

Peel the fruit, make sure you take off the white pulp and half the segments.

Add the pulp of the lemon.

Clean the outside of  1 orange with soda bicarbonate, and cut it into small pieces. 

Grate the ginger. 

Cook all the ingredients together on slow fire until thicker.

Agnes adds no sugar to make up for the decandent Christmas holidays. If you really insist on a sweeter version, do use a healthy alternative like a stevia or cane sugar to taste.

And she also says you will not be needing any conservants. The marmelade is so good that there´s simply no opportunity for it to go off. 

Bon profit or

 Jóétvágyat

as Agnes would wish you in Hungarian.

Apart from being an apt cook, Agnes Somogyi is an expert tailor and fashion designer. You can find some of her lovely underwear in our shop or on her website.
http://couturquoise.blogspot.com/