Whoever grows it becomes wealthy. The transparent gold tree produces flowers that contain oil, which is worth thousands of dollars per liter
The city of Nabeul in northeastern Tunisia turns into a magical place decorated with orange trees covered in white flowers in the spring. According to a report from Reuters, the streets, alleys, squares, and public and private gardens in front of homes are decorated with these trees, which have become part of the identity of the city and its residents.
Known as “orange blossom,” these perennial and evergreen trees belong to the citrus family and reach a height of up to 10 metres. The fragrance of neroli, the blossom that grows on these trees, wafts throughout Nabeul Governorate, also known as the “tribal homeland” of Tunisia. The region is famous for producing and distilling orange blossom juice to obtain a precious concentrated liquid used as perfume.
The Nalang farms, which extend over an area of 480 hectares in the province, are characterized by spread and threat of extinction due to the decrease in the number of Nalang trees and their decline in the farms over the past five seasons. Orange blossom production reached about 2,200 tons annually, and approximately 1,400 kg of orange blossom oil is produced annually. Neroli oil is used as a base in perfumes, aromatic products, and body moisturizing products.
A member of the Nabeul Municipal Welfare Association, Ahmed Bohnak, told Reuters that neroli flowers were brought to Tunisia from Andalusia. Bohnke explained that the farms on the coast of northeastern Tunisia show good resistance, as they produce high-quality flowers that perfume producers compete to obtain from various parts of the world. He added that this industry provides an important income for thousands of Tunisian families in the region, and their income is renewed every spring season thanks to the juice of neroli flowers, which expresses good luck and optimism.
There are 10 neroli oil production units in the region, and all of their products are exported. It takes about 600 liters of membrane to produce one kilogram of orange blossom oil. Tunisian orange blossom oil is considered one of the best products in the world, but it faces challenges due to growing competition from countries such as Egypt and Morocco in recent years.
Source: websites
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