'Garden of Eden': the Spanish farm growing citrus you've never heard of
10 days ago
- #organic farming
- #citrus varieties
- #climate resilience
- Matthew Slotover discovered the Todolí Citrus Foundation, the largest private collection of citrus in the world with over 500 varieties.
- The farm grows rare citrus fruits like kumquat, finger lime, sudachi, and bergamot, all organically, creating a haven for wildlife.
- Slotover, founder of Toklas in London, sources rare citrus from Todolí for his menu, collaborating with chefs and organic suppliers.
- Finger limes, known as caviar limes, are a popular menu item at Toklas, prized for their burst-in-mouth zesty pearls.
- The Todolí Citrus Foundation operates organically, avoiding pesticides and using ancient Arab irrigation practices with ditches and ponds.
- The farm serves as a gene bank for citrus varieties, crucial for adapting to climate change and future cultivation challenges.
- One notable variety is the trifoliate orange, which sheds leaves in winter, offering cold resistance—a potential genetic trait for other citrus.
- The farm cultivates 40 Japanese citrus varieties, including Kiyomi tangor and Valentine pomelo, favored by chefs for unique flavors.