The essential oil of Bitter Orange ‘Fondazione’ is a remarkable departure from the assertive bitterness often associated with Citrus aurantium. Soft, sweet, and rounded, it offers an elegant balance that distillers appreciate for its versatility and depth.
 
The tree itself is highly floriferous, and the fragrance of its springtime blossoms is unforgettable , lush, narcotic, and almost hypnotic. While the flowers may echo neroli, the oil extracted from the zest holds its own, bright, clean, slightly floral with a velvety green base and a whisper of bitter complexity.
 
The ‘Fondazione’ oil is as refined as it is flexible, and a true testament to citrus craftsmanship.
 
FRUIT
Bitter Orange ‘Fondazione’ is an Italian cultivar of Citrus aurantium that softens the typical harshness of bitter orange. Its bitterness is gentle, almost sweet, making it an ideal culinary citrus. In southern Iberian cooking, its juice and zest are prized ingredients in traditional dishes that feature bold flavors, especially those rich in garlic and olive oil.
In Andalusia, las cachorrenas, a rustic soup of bread, paprika, garlic, and bitter orange showcases the fruit's ability to brighten and temper heat and fat. Similarly, in the Algarve, tiborna trades paprika for simplicity but retains the same key role for the zest and juice. In both, bitter orange adds a fleeting fresh, floral lift that balances the intensity of the dish. It’s this aromatic delicacy, particularly in the zest, that makes the fruit so cherished in both kitchen and garden.
 
Fruit available January to March