Hi Paul,
PR>Most people are unaware that the sweet orange is a modern development.
PR>The Arabs brought oranges into Spain to contribute their scent in the
PR>walled "persian" style gardens.  The fruit was sour, and considered
PR>inedible.
   I can see why. This is me after I eat one. :-* But it's true, just
   one or two flowers can pleasantly scent up my whole kitchen. A whole
   bunch of flowers can drive me out of the same kitchen.
PR>There is one variety which is still sour.  (Seville orange?)  According
PR>to legend, a Scots merchant was sold a load of these, assuming they were
PR>sweet.  But when they proved to be unsellable, and with his money spent
PR>on a perishable load of goods, he was desperate.  His wife came up with
PR>the idea of slicing them thinly, and preserving them with loads of
PR>sugar, Orange Marmalade.  And to some extent explains why it is a taste
PR>largely of the Commonwealth.
  Sour orange (marmalade orange) trees are still popular with some
  people; whether or not they're British, I don't know. But fewer people
  are eating old-fashioned jam made with tons of sugar, and I haven't
  yet seen a "lite" marmalade. My English Pa-in-law no longer eats the
  regular stuff, although he did when younger. He now prefers strawberry
  jam. :-)
                       ...Sandra...
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