The citrus flavor of the Guadalhorce Valley

Citrus production in the province of Malaga is mainly concentrated in the Guadalhorce Valley. There are more than 10,000 hectares that are cultivated between lemons, oranges and mandarins from Malaga. Of all this production, the lemon plantations stand out, which represent more than 50% of the total citrus business volume in the province, which in times of peak production can exceed 150,000 tons. The fine lemon and verna lemon varieties are the most common when it comes to lemons grown in Malaga soil.

The fine lemon tree usually inhabits meadow lands, while the verna lemon tree is mainly seen on mountain slopes. The first of them is characterized by producing an oval (and sometimes spherical) fruit with a short nipple, smooth and thin rind, with a high amount of juice and few seeds. The second, on the other hand, produces a larger fruit, with a thick, rough and irregular rind and with less juice. The cultivation of the Malaga orange and the Malaga mandarin is also concentrated, for the most part, in the Guadalhorce Valley. The orange tree adapts very well to the climatic characteristics of the region, since it needs temperate and humid climates. The production of oranges in Malaga is high (it can exceed four tons) and can be exported to other countries.
The cultivation of mandarins, on the other hand, is more scarce and is used for local consumption thanks to the fact that it is a fruit with tradition in our country for its rich flavor. The most notable varieties of Malaga orange are the Valencian and the navelate. The Valencian orange (also known as Valencia Late) is the most popular in Spain and one of the most consumed in the world. Its rind is thin and has a large amount of juice (very acidic). For its part, the navelate orange has a much sweeter flavor and a juicier texture. The most common Malaga mandarins are clemenules and clemenvillas. Both are included in the group of clementines, although there are small differences between them. Clemenules mandarins are large in size and easy to peel. Their pulp is juicy and they have few bones. Clemenvillas are also large in size, although some smaller varieties can be found. They are juicy and easy to peel, although they have a somewhat bittersweet flavor.