Description
The Clementinas de las Tierras del Ebro PGI are citrus fruits from the Citrus reticulata species in the Clementina fina, Clementina Hernandina and Clemenules or Clementina de Nules varieties.
Production Area
The production area of the Clementinas de las Tierras del Ebro PGI covers the many municipal areas of the regions of Baix Ebre and Montsià, in the districts of Tarragona in the Autonomous Community of Catalonia.
Production Method
The trees are pruned in the first years of life to strengthen their structure and improve their productivity. Harvesting, which is made when the fruits matured suitably, takes place without dew or fog by means of cutters. Later the fruits are transported to the transformation factories where they are washed, polished, measured, packed and stored in refrigerated rooms.
Appearance and Flavour
The Clementinas de las Tierras del Ebro PGI are characterized by a deep orange colour, a very slow maturation process and a high-quality taste. Generally, the clementine is round, sometimes with a small neck, with a medium thickness, slightly turgescent and easy to peel.
History
Spain has been the first western country to produce citrus fruits, which were imported by the Arabs around the 10th century. The origins of Clementinas de las Tierras del Ebro PGI date back to 1800, while its expansion and economic importance highly developed in the 1960s and has improved up to today becoming the main cultivation of this geographic area.
Gastronomy
The citrus fruits must be stored in dry and fresh rooms. The Clementinas de las Tierras del Ebro PGI are used fresh or as an ingredient of different recipes. They can be used to flavour meat and poultry dishes or to produce desserts, ice creams, cakes and marmalades.
Marketing
The product is sold only as Clementinas de las Tierras del Ebro PGI in the following classes: Extra and I. The very long maturation period enables to sell them later than the other competitive products. They are sold unpacked or packed in suitable containers with different weights.
Distinctive Features
The climatic features and the ground rich in phosphor and potassium give the Clementinas de las Tierras del Ebro PGI their unique characteristics. The high concentration of potassium makes the peel thinner. The trees which produce this variety are vigorous, big and resistant to cold.
