Fruit

Citrus aurantium

A tier

Citrus aurantium is the botanical species of bitter/sour orange—parent of many rootstocks, source of neroli and petitgrain oils, and fruit for marmalade and sour cooking. Flowers perfume teas and pastries in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern traditions. Distinct species from sweet C. sinensis. Treat fruit as bitter orange culinarily. Blossoms for scented waters; leaves and twigs for petitgrain. Rootstock role matters to growers more than shoppers, but species identity clarifies labelling. Home cooks who specialise in Marmalade often keep Citrus aurantium on a shortlist because Bitter Species character shows clearly on the plate.