The View of the People Shiraz about Seville Orange Tree

If you ever happen to go to Shiraz in Spring, the beauty of its Seville orange trees will attract your attention, and getting the smell of the fragrance of this tree in the spring mornings of Shiraz will be an experience that no tourist will forget.

Seville Orange Tree, the Guest of the Shirazi Houses

The people of Shiraz try to make a mini-garden in the courtyard of their houses and plant at least one Seville orange tree in it. They consider the pool and the Seville orange tree to be so important that they refer to them as “the eye of the house”.

The people of Shiraz plant Seville orange trees in their homes for two reasons: firstly, because of this tree’s compatibility with the climate and nature of Shiraz, and secondly, because of its fertility. This tree is green throughout the year and adds beauty to the houses and streets of the city. This tree blooms from the beginning of spring and when its flowers open toward the end of April, it spreads a unique fragrance in the air.

What Do the People of Shiraz Use the Seville Orange Blossoms for?

Knowing that not all the blossoms of this tree will turn into fruit, the Shirazis spread a large piece of cloth under the tree to collect the blossoms that fall from it. These blossoms are then cleaned and spread in a room to dry and once they are completely dry, they store them in cloth bags or glass containers and use them to flavor their drinks like tea, etc. “Baharnarenj Damnoosh” (herbal infusion of Seville orange blossom) is also one of the popular drinks among Shirazis. These blossoms are also used to make a delicious jam and a kind of drink both of which have a warm nature and are very health beneficial.

Seville orange ripens in early autumn. Shirazis pick these fruits to use as a seasoning for dishes such as yakhni, sabzi polau mahi, and other dishes made with rice. The people of Shiraz also take this fruit for their hosts.

The leaves of the Seville Orange Tree are also used for decorating some dishes. The Shirazis pour nazri dishes such as Aush or Sholezard in a bowl, put it on a plate, and decorate it with the leaves of the Seville Orange Tree. While returning the container of the nazri dish some green leaves of this tree are placed in it as a sign of appreciation and gratitude.

Sharing Seville Orange among Families

In the past, the joint family system was quite common in Shiraz, therefore, when the fruits of this tree were ripe enough, all the families would gather together on a special date to pick and divide them among themselves.

Old Beliefs about the Timing of Picking Seville Oranges

Shirazis believed that picking oranges at night was evil, so the elders of the house forbade children from picking them at night. One of the reasons for this was to eliminate possible disturbance to the birds that rested on the trees during the night. The people of Shiraz had great respect for these birds and considered them as guests of their home. Sometimes they even provided food for them.

Another belief of the people of Shiraz was that if all the fruits of a Seville Orange Tree were picked in one go, the tree would be upset with them. Therefore, a few oranges were always left on the tree, especially on the upper branches.

Manners for Picking Seville Oranges

The people of Shiraz observe special customs for picking oranges and try to do the least possible damage to the tree while picking the fruit. Usually, the fruits of the lower branches are picked by hand, and to pick the fruits of the higher branches, a long stick with a two-pronged rake is used. This instrument is called “Narenj Chin” (lit. orange picker) and its use is to preserve the respect of the tree and protect it from possible damage.

If you ever happen to go to Shiraz in Spring, the beauty of its Seville orange trees will attract your attention, and getting the smell of the fragrance of this tree in the spring mornings of Shiraz will be an experience that no tourist will forget.