The Origins of the Algarve Orange — From Arabia to the World
Two Oranges, Two Different Stories
Not all oranges arrived the same way. The history of the fruit in the Algarve is really two parallel stories, each with its own protagonists and timeline.
The Bitter Orange — An Arab Introduction
The first orange to reach the Iberian Peninsula was the bitter variety, brought by Arab traders between the 8th and 9th centuries. Prized for ornamental, medicinal, and culinary purposes rather than eating fresh, it became a fixture in Moorish gardens and kitchens.
The Sweet Orange — A Portuguese Discovery
The orange we know today — sweet, juicy, and synonymous with the Algarve — came later. Portuguese merchants brought it from China in the 16th century, and historical manuscripts frequently name D. Francisco Mascarenhas as the man who introduced the first sweet orange tree (known as the “Eva tree”) to Portugal, likely brought from Goa or Macau around 1624 or 1635.
From Royal Curiosity to Regional Identity
Systematic cultivation of sweet orange trees in the Algarve took off in the 16th century and never looked back. Its importance extended well beyond the table.
Oranges and the Age of Discovery
When Portuguese explorers set sail from the ports of Faro and Lagos, oranges went with them. Rich in vitamin C, they became an essential weapon against scurvy on long sea voyages — which in turn drove demand for large-scale cultivation in the south of the country.
A Fruit That Named Itself
The orange’s global journey left a linguistic trace. In several languages — Greek, Romanian, and various Arabic dialects among them — the word for “orange” is derived from “Portugal,” a reflection of the country’s central role in spreading the fruit around the world.
