Greek citron

The Greek citron is called "Citrus Medica variety etrog" because of its major use for the Jewish ritual during the Feast of Tabernacles. Initially, it was mainly grown on the island of Corfu, but nowadays not one citron tree is found on that island. As of today, it is the leading variety in Israel.

The variety is best selling for the religious ritual, because of its natural beauty, and usually persistent style and stigma. It could still be found in some Greek Islands for e.g. Crete and Naxos where they are distilling it into certain special liqueurs, but for the ritual use it is mostly cultivated only in Israel.

This Greek Citron got into use for the Ashkenazic community during the wars of Napoleon, when the Yanova Citron import was ceased due to the battles. The use of a newly imported citron was questioned during decades, regarding the poor information about grafting or hybridization.

Rabbi Efraim Zalman Margalioth in his response Beis Efraim (volume 1;56) verified in his time that no grafted trees are found on the grounds of Corfu. This certification as well as the lenient position of many other authorities eventually permitted the Esrog.

While the Greek market expanded, citrons were also imported from the shores of Greece itself, especially from the regions of Parga, Rapiza and Agia. Several conflicts arose if those plantations are in the same state of kashrus each to another, and to the ones of the Corfu Island.

Introduction to Israel
At the same time (about 1850) effort was done by Sir Moshe Montifuri to establish Esrog plantation in Israel, in order to help the Jewish settlers to survive from hunger and pain. As the Beladdi of Palestine was not so greatful in shape, color etc., with almost no persistent style, the Sephardic settlers who were always lenient about the Corfu, planted their seeds into coastal region of Israel, especially in region of Jaffa.

During days, the Arabic farmers imported cutting from Greece which were budded onto lemon rootstock. Besides, the Corfu variety which they called Kabbud abu Nunia (-the citron with persistent style) suffered difficulties to acclimatize in the Palestinian land, and grafting started to be practiced in a large scale.

The Sephardic rabbis, as well as some Ashkenazic, permitted the citrons of Jaffa upon inspection prior to pick each and every citron. The major Ashkenazic authorities of Jerusalem permitted only the Beladdi which was mainly grown around the towns of Safed, Sh'khem or the Arabic village Um el-Fahm. Also the plantations near Tiberias were accepted. According to the Hebrew writer "Osof Gur", in his work named Toldos Hoesrog Beretz Yisroel, the variety is distinct by crispiness and slight sweetness in the inner rind. The pulp is high Acid.

Reference

 * ילקוט שו"ת פרי עץ הדר, לבוב תר"ו
 * שו"ת לב חיים למהר"ח פאלאגי ח"ב סימנים קכא-קכג
 * קונטרס פרי עץ הדר ירושלים תרל"ח
 * תולדות האתרוג (פרי עץ הדר) בארץ ישראל בכל התקופות; אסף גור, תשכ"ו
 * The Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture
 * Innvista page about citrons
 * Essay by Eliezer Segal
 * The Citron in the Mediterranean, Erich Isaac
 * Remnants of ancient synagogue in Albania
 * The Citron in Crete today
 * Composition of the Leaf and Peel Oils of Citrus medica L. 'Diamante' from Crete
 * In the Arboretum Today
 * Crete Citron Google Books
 * The Purdue University
 * Greek Travel Homepage
 * The Citron in Naxos
 * Agro Travel Greek Naxos
 * Google Book Naxos Citron

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