Citrus fruits belong to the Rutaceae family, and include different types of fruits and products: oranges, tangerines, mandarines, clementines, satsumas, lemons and limes and grapefruit.

The exact location of origin of citrus fruits is not clearly identified, although most researchers place it in South-East Asia, at least 4000 years BC. Citrus fruit trees are thorny, of short height (4 to 9 m), round in appearance, with evergreen leaves that are grown in tropical and subtropical climates. As this perennial crop does not tolerate cold climates, citrus fruits are normally harvested in the area situated at a latitude between 40° North and 40° South. They are therefore typically grown in "Mediterranean" type climates.