Moroccan citron

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Moroccan Citron
Species
C. medica

The Moroccan sweet citron was first described in detail by Professor Henri Chapot, in his article named Un curieux cedrat Marocain which he published in year 1950.[1] He found that the acidity in the more common citrons or lemons, is represented by violet pigmentation on the outer side of the flower blossom, and also the new buds are reddish-purplish. The Moroccan citron which is acidless, and is sometimes used as a replacement for the Corsican, is completely lacking the red colour.

This designation was also cited by Webber and Batchelor the editors of the fundamental treatise on citrus, namely The Citrus Industry, which was published by the University of California in year 1967.[2]


[edit] Use as Etrog

The Berbers with their etrog plantations.
The Berbers with their etrog plantations.

The exact date when the variety came into use for etrog is unknown. But according to the local Jewry, it was with them since they were exiled to there after the destruction of the Second Temple. The precise location of the village Assads, which is right head of Tarrudant, and a 100 km east of Agadir, was numerously reported by rabbinical and secular sources.

In year 1995 Professor Eliezer E. Goldschmidt together with a delegation of rabbi's were hired by the great rabbi in Israel, Yosef Shalom Elyashiv to check out if Morocco is still in the same state of kashrut, and if any grafted etrog is to be found over there. Professor Goldschmidt asked the Moroccan professor of horticulture, namely Mohamed El-Otmani from Agadir, to come along and standing to help.

All together they climbed up the anti-atlas canyon where the local berbers are cultivating the Moroccan Citron for many centuries, and they were very impressed from the old tradition which is practiced there, finding not one grafted citron tree.

The delegation presented their founding to Rabbi Elyashiv, who was very happy to the information that the Moroccan wilderness still presents the unbroken lineage, of a non-grafted etrog.

The Berberic peasants climbing up the steep mountain at the way to their orchards.
The Berberic peasants climbing up the steep mountain at the way to their orchards.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Rev. Intl. Bot. Appl. Agr. Trop. 30:506–514.
  2. ^ Available online at The citrus Industry

[edit] See also


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Citron varieties
Citron varieties used in the Etrog ritual.
Citron varieties NOT used in the Etrog ritual.