Page 35 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

A POR TR AIT OF SP AIN  33

Banana plantation in La Palma, Canary Islands
Crops from Trees
Oranges, lemons and clementines are The almond, orange and olive create the three most
grown on the irrigated coastal plains characteristic landscapes of rural Spain, but several other
beside the Mediterranean. The region of trees provide important crops. Wine corks are made from
Valencia is the prime producer of oranges. the bark of the cork oak. Tropical species, such as avocado
and cherimoya, a deli cious creamy fruit little known
outside Spain, have been introduced to the so-called
Costa Tropical of Andalucía (see p489); and bananas
are a major crop of the Canary Islands. Elsewhere,
peaches and loquats are also grown commercially.
Figs and carobs – whose fruit is used for fodder and
BARCELONA as a substitute for chocolate – grow semi-wild.
Wine is produced in Almonds grow on dry hill-
many parts of Spain sides in many parts of Spain.
(see pp580–81). The The spring blossom can
country’s best sparkling be spectacular. The nut,
wine grapes are grown enclosed by a fleshy green
in Catalonia. skin, is used in
a variety of
Rice is grown sweetmeats,
in the Ebro delta, in including the
the Marismas del Christmas treat turrón
Guadalquivir, around
L’Albufera near (see p191).
Valencia and also at
Calasparra in Murcia. Olive trees grow slowly and
often live to a great age. The
fruit is harvested in winter
0 kilometres 200 and either
pickled
0 miles 100
in brine,
for eating
as a snack, or
to extract the oil,
which is widely used
in Spanish cuisine.
Sweet oranges are grown in
dense, well-irrigated groves
near the frost-free coasts.
The sweet smell of orange
blossom in springtime is
unmistakable. Trees of
the bitter orange
are often planted
for shade and
Olive trees are planted in long, straight decoration in
lines across large swathes of Andalucía, parks and gardens.
especially in the province of Jaén. Spain is
the world’s leading producer of olive oil.

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