Very juicy, sweet and without (or almost) seeds. It is about theSt. Joseph's Belladonna Orange which takes its name from the hamlet of Villa San Giuseppe, located on the northern outskirts of Reggio Calabria, but which extends its sphere of interest also in the area between the Gallico and Catona valleys, two waterways that descend from the Aspromonte to to the Strait of Messina. The Belladonna Orange – not to be confused with the late Blond of San Giuseppe (its probable mutation) – is a variety of late orange (they ripen in the months from March to May) which in addition to becoming a Slow Food Presidium has been included by the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies in the list of Traditional Agri-food Products of the Calabria Region (PAT).
Belladonna orange: the origins
This type of citrus fruit has organoleptic properties which have always ensured its success. The first news on the presence of this variety dates back to 1863, when Professor Pasquale Giuseppe, in one of his treatises on agricultural economics, describes the citrus-growing area of Reggio, emphasizing the excellence of Villa San Giuseppe's orange production. The citrus fruits of this area were famous and represented an important economic resource: until the 70s this crop represented a significant item in the agricultural sector of the province because its price on the market, compared to other agricultural products, was much more profitable. Furthermore, they were marketed not only in Italy but exported throughout Europe, and even reached Russia, much appreciated by the higher social classes during the years preceding the Bolshevik Revolution (for this reason they are also called the oranges of the tsars). However, in the second half of the last century, thanks to the reorganization of the distribution of the plots under concession, the diffusion of more popular and precocious varieties and the progressive abandonment of agricultural activity, the Orange Belladonna stopped being profitable and its cultivation was slowly shelved.
The path towards the Slow Food Presidium
An important recognition for the five producers who did not want to abandon the variety that has represented the citrus history of the area.
The path, that of the Presidium, was launched in 2014 by Slow Food Reggio Calabria. Much of the credit is of Francesco Sacca who made their skills available by following all stages of the process from proposal to implementation. Adding up the five producers participating in the Presidium, production is around 500-600 quintals.
Characteristics of Orange Belladonna
The oranges of the Belladonna variety are a fruit that ripens in late winter or in the middle of spring. In fact, it goes from the beginning of March to May, but the fruits (weather conditions permitting) can remain on the branches even until late June.
From the point of view nutritional, the Belladonna Orange has a good concentration of Vitamin C, fibers e mineral salts which strengthen the immune system making it more resistant to a wide range of diseases. For this reason it is advisable to consume them fresh, even better if squeezed. They are also used to make juices, jams and candied peel.
