When we think of the citrus fruits of Sorrento, lemons spring to mind at once, but strolling through the gardens of the Peninsula we discovered that Sorrento oranges have just as long a history. Here is why they deserve a place beside their more famous neighbour.
A traditional orange
The Sorrento orange is listed among the traditional agri-food products (PAT) of the Campania Region, in the plant products category. It has no DOP or IGP: it is recognised as a historic crop of the Sorrento Peninsula, tied to the landscape of terraced gardens that run down to the sea.
The regional listing describes it with a few very specific features: a fairly thick peel, many seeds, plenty of juice and a fairly large size. It is an orange for squeezing rather than peeling, and indeed its juice was the star of the freshly squeezed juices served at the kiosks of Naples.
Seven centuries of citrus
According to the Region, orange growing on the Peninsula dates back to the 14th century. For centuries it was an important source of income for Sorrento and the nearby towns, thanks in part to sea trade: the oranges left from the small harbours of the coast bound for Italian and European markets. It was exports that drove farmers to expand and refine the crop over time.
The pergolas and the spring harvest
Anyone visiting the Peninsula immediately notices the typical pergolas, the frameworks of poles covering the citrus groves. As with the lemon, oranges are grown under this system: the coverings protect the trees from wind and cold and, by slowing ripening, allow the fruit to be picked in late spring, when the orange season is already over elsewhere.
We love walking through these gardens: under the pergolas there is cool shade and a scent of orange blossom that, in the right months, follows you along the paths from one village to the next.
How to enjoy it
We suggest trying it the traditional way, as a freshly made squeezed juice. Its abundant juice is also excellent in cooking, in desserts and syrups. Campania also has a traditional citrus-based product, blond orange syrup, which is likewise included in the regional list.
Where to taste it and what is nearby
Look for it at the markets and in the gardens of Sorrento, Sant'Agnello, Piano di Sorrento and Massa Lubrense. Explore the town with Sorrento: what to see and The Ancient Walls of Sorrento, then venture out to The Bay of Ieranto. For its more famous cousin read Limone di Sorrento IGP; for another Campanian orange there is our guide to Pagani oranges. All the protected products are in our guide to Campania's DOP and IGP products.
Sources: Campania Region, PAT entry “Arancia di Sorrento”; Campania Region, PAT list of plant products.
Top photo (Sorrento): Kim Traynor, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
