the story of orange

orange began as fruit growing on the tropical slopes of mountains in asia. in ancient sanskrit, its name was “naranga”, or “fragrant”.
the orange thrived along sunny shores on the mediterranean sea. in the middle ages, the moors brought it to italy and spain. spanish sailors carried orange seeds in their pockets to the new world, and the conquest of orange was complete.
orange was the colour of rare spices. it was a symbol of good health, strong appetite and robust sexuality. to the hill people of afghanistan, who cultivated the carrot, orange food was considered virtuous food.
the ancient greeks considered the orange to be a shade of red. if they had a word for the colour orange, it has been lost. chaucer said the colour was “betwixe yellow and reed”. it ws not until the 1500s that the name of the fruit became the name of the colour.
orange is the colour of joy, energy and good health. it is the colour of conversation and friendly debate, the colour of wisdom and creativity. orange fights sadness and depression. warm and invigorating — like the fruit itself — is orange.