Oh man! So glad you asked! Their energetic colors and distinctive flavors are always enticing, but the enchantment (all right, obsession!) with citrus fruit lies in the journey the fruit has taken over the past five thousand-ish years: from a sacred fruit available only to royalty to a fruit produced and enjoyed by a variety of people all over the world.
The oldest references to citrus fruit (5000 years ago) are found in India where they were delicacies enjoyed by royalty in sacred ceremonies. The fruit then made its way across India, into Tibet and across the Himalayas into China. When Alexander the Great wandered into India, he took the citrus fruit and introduced it to Europe and the Middle East. The fruit – very popular among royalty and the wealthy in Europe – was part of Christopher Columbus’ food supplies when he began his travels. Around this time, citrus fruit were also being planted and harvested in the gardens of the Dutch East India Company in South Africa.
As sailors discovered that the coveted fruit helped prevent scurvy on the ships, the citrus fruit became a favorite thing to pack for navigators on many seas and oceans. These explorers became serious (really serious!) fans of the fruit and enthusiastically planted seeds on every stop throughout the Caribbean islands, the western coast of South America, and the southeastern tip of North America. The fruit soon became a staple in a healthy diet, and the now popular fruit finally made their way across mainland America to California, and eventually bounced on over to Australia in the early 1900s.
In many ways, the citrus fruit represent the communities and history from which global culture has evolved, and they hold lessons about learning from one another. During their long trek across the globe, the citrus fruit quietly but surely left their marks as cultural, sacred and medicinal symbols in many countries. Since citrus fruits are one of the easiest fruits to hybridize, the interesting, colorful and in-demand varieties ensure that the fruit is celebrated both for its original symbolism and its modern manifestations.
For Nextions, the citrus fruit represent new ideas, expanding awareness and the leadership it takes to make an impact as you go from today to tomorrow.
