Description
The Portokalia Maleme Chanion Kritis PDO is an orange produced from the Washington Navel variety.
Production Area
The Portokalia Maleme Chanion Kritis PDO is mainly cultivated in the municipal area of Chania, within the administrative boundaries of the Chania prefecture coastal area, which extends from Kolymvari to Stalos and includes the following municipal areas: Kolymvari, Spilia, Drakona, Episkopi, Kamisiani, Tavronitis, Polemarchio, Voukolies, Varypetro, Neo-Chorio, Neriana, Zounaki, Syrili, Vlacheronitissa, Maleme, Kontomari, Xamoudochori, Kyparissos, Gerani, Loutraki, Modio, Psathoyiannos, Apothikes, Vrisses, Patelari, Platanias, Aghia Marina, Stalos, in the Crete region.
Production Method
The oranges are cultivated in an area that extends over 6-8 km. The pruning is carried out by hand or with the help of agricultural machinery. The terrain's fertilization with mixed or nitrogenous fertilizers, the irrigation with micro-irrigators and the adequate sun exposure contribute to the excellent outcome of the harvest. The ripe fruit is collected, selected with care and placed in suitable plastic containers of 20 kg. Possible diseases or parasites, such as the mealybug, are eliminated with insecticides approximately two or three months before harvest.
Appearance and Flavour
The Portokalia Maleme Chanion Kritis PDO is an orange with a characteristic colour, a roundish or slightly elongated shape, and is sweet and juicy. It is very rich in vitamin C.
History
The history of the Portokalia Maleme Chanion Kritis PDO is linked to the Greek mythology. It tells that Juno goddess wedding dowry, married with Jupiter, were citrus trees (oranges and lemons) and tomatos because they were symbols of love and fecund wish. In fact the orange-blossom is a traditional flower utilized for the wedding bouquet.
Gastronomy
The Portokalia Maleme Chanion Kritis PDO should be kept in a cool and dry place, and, if not consumed immediately, it should be kept in the less cold area of the refrigerator. It is consumed plain, as a snack or to make very tasty juices.
Marketing
The product is sold as Portokalia Maleme Chanion Kritis PDO. It is marketed in cartons that generally hold 14 kg (arranged by size in three or four lines), but packages of 11 kg or 6 kg can also be found. Every orange carries a label with the writing "Oranges Malene from Chania-Crete PDO" followed by an MA control code number and a progressive number, whose last two digits indicate the production year. For exports, cardboard boxes of 14 kg or 18 kg are used (with the writing regarding the size and the number of fruits contained), as well as nets of 2 kg or 3 kg.
Distinctive Features
The Portokalia Maleme Chanion Kritis PDO is an orange with first-rate organoleptic qualities, which derive from the particular microclimate of the cultivation area.
