Fruit, vegetables and pulses

Traditional citrus of Palagiano

Traditional citrus of Palagiano: mandarins, clementines and old varieties

On the Ionian arc near Taranto, Palagiano's old groves draw on the water of the lame and on a story that began with the 1951 land reform, when farm labourers planted Avana mandarins and clementines. The Slow Food Presidium protects these historic groves, where heirloom varieties survive and chemical weedkillers are banned.

• Alongside Avana and Comune grow Marzaiolo, Tarocco Dal Muso, Vaniglia and Femminello lemon
• Round clementines, slightly flattened at the poles, nearly always seedless and highly fragrant
• Cut from the tree by hand with shears, from December to May depending on the variety

How to enjoy it. Eat them as they are: try an Avana mandarin, a clementine and a Vaniglia orange one after another to taste how different they are. Clementines keep for weeks in the fridge and work well in juices, sorbets and marmalade.

Production areas

Apulia

Season

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