Citrus fruit sour orange health benefits, in recipe, medicinal values
Sour orange called citrus aurantium which is native to South East Asia also known as bitter orange, ellikayi, marmalade orange, kanchekayi, narthangai. It grows in tropical and subtropical places.
Sour orange tree is small one and sour orange fruit is greenish when unripened and yellowish orange when ripened. Its juice tastes sour and bitter. It has outer thick, hard peel and inner fleshy juicy part.
Sour orange fruit used in cooking to prepare many dishes and it adds special flavor and taste to the food. Rasam, gojju, panaka, chithranna, pickle and leha are prepared using this sour orange.
It is used in home remedies and it is stomach stimulant, appetite suppressant and helps in weight loss. It is widely used in diet pills and fat which is taken as a remedy for weight loss.
The essential oil prepared from the flowers and peel of sour orange is used in making perfumes and cosmetics. This oil called neroli oil is also used in aromatherapy which reduces stress and anxiety. It also rejuvenates nervous system and lowers blood pressure.
Leaves, rind, flowers of sour orange are aromatic and used in perfume industry. Sour orange is also used as flavouring agent in food products, candy and various condiments.
Sour orange has anti ageing antiseptic, antibacterial and anti fungal properties.
The flowers of bitter orange are used in preparing tea as a flavouring agent.
Sour orange health benefits
It relieves from nausea and vomiting. It is used to treat cough and cold. It helps to cure asthma and lowers blood cholesterol.
Sour orange leaves paste applied treats inflammation. It reduces itching and treats rashes on skin.
The rind of the fruit can be used as scrubber for face. It cures acne and blackheads and removes dead cells from the skin.
Sour orange flowers are fried and this taken in case of dysentery and it also controls muscle spasms.
The flower of bitter orange is used in preparing tea as a flavouring agent. It adds special aroma to tea.
Neroli oil has anti inflammatory, analgesic property. This oil is also used to treat many skin disorders. When used in aromatherapy relaxes mind and body and reduces stress and anxiety.
Sour orange peel us used many ailments like gastrointestinal problems, respiratory disorders, insomnia, stress and anxiety.
Sour orange in recipe
sour orange juice
Sour orange juice is a healthy juice which is rich in vitamin C and flavonoids. It increased immunity of our body and protects our body from pathogens. It is a healthy drink available in road side markets in many south Indian cities and villages.
Ingredients needed
Sour orange 1
Sugar 6-8 tsp
Black pepper 1/2 tsp
Red chilli powder 1 tsp
Salt to taste
Preparation
Sour orange is cut to two pieces and juice taken out in a bowl.
Two glasses of water is added to it.
Sugar, black pepper powder, red chilli powder and salt is added to and mixed well.
You can also change the quantity of ingredients as per your taste and the amount of juice available from sour orange.
Sour orange pickle
Sour orange pickle is tasty pickle with litter bitterness in taste. It is especially given to lactating mothers.
Ingredients needed
Sour orange 2
Red chilli powder 4 tsp
Mustard seeds 2 tsp
Hing 1/2 tsp
Cooking oil 4-6 tsp
Salt as per taste
Preparation
Wash and dry sour orange well.
Then remove the rind of the fruit and cut it into square pieces.
Take out juice from the pulp and keep aside.
Fry mustard seeds without oil and powder it.
Fry hing and mustard seeds and allow it to cool.
Then fry sour orange rind pieces without oil and allow it to cool.
As it cools add chilli powder, salt, mustard powder to sour orange rind pieces and mix well.
Finally add hing to it and mix well. Store this in air tight container.
Instead of chilli powder you can also add black pepper powder also.
Sour orange rasam
Sour orange rasam is a healthy rasam and it is best to take in winter. It goes well with rice.
Ingredients needed
sour orange juice 3-4 tsp
Fresh grated coconut 1 cup
Black pepper 1/2 tsp
Cumin 1 tsp
Mustard seeds 1 tsp
Salt to taste
Hing 1/4 tsp
Garlic cloves 7-8
Ghee 3 tsp
Turmeric powder 1/2 tsp
Jaggery powder 1 tsp
Coriander leaves
Preparation
Fry cumin, black pepper, curry leaves with 1 tsp of ghee.
Then grind this fried ingredients with fresh grated coconut.
Then add water to this ground mixture so that it gets rasam consistency and cook it in a pan.
After it boils add salt, jaggery and turmeric powder to it.
When this mixture boils well for 2-3 minute, add sour orange juice to it and mix well.
Season it with cumin, mustard seeds, curry leaves, hing and garlic cloves.
Finally garnish with coriander leaves.
You can also add green chilli instead of black pepper.
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The opinions expressed herein are authors personal opinions and do not represent any one's view in anyway, do not use this information to diagnose or treat your problem without consulting your physician. Remedies here mentioned are used for ages may not be clinically proven.
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