Lumia from Valencia

Lums are a heterogeneous group of citrus hybrids. They are thought to have originated in the Mediterranean and were already named by agronomists and historians in the 13th century. They are hybrids of Pummelo, either with Citron or with Lemon. The Valencia Luma was described by Risso and Poiteau in the early 19th century, and by Ferrari in his treatise of 1646, where he called it Lumia Valentina. Even earlier, there is a reference indicating that Pedro Pintor, physician to Pope Borgia Alexander VI, taught the people of Naples how to prepare a medicine with Hyacinth and the juice of the Valencia Luma.

Vigorous tree with a tendency to form a semi-spherical crown. Large leaves with winged petioles. Large fruits with a distinctly spherical morphology, unique among the lumias, although they may have an irregular neck, which is usually displaced from the vertical axis. Smooth bark that is pale yellow when mature. Flesh is also pale yellow, juicy, sweet, somewhat fibrous, and has a refreshing acidic note. It has some rounded seeds.

Both the pulp and the juice have an interesting hybrid character, with a contained acidity and the bitter touch of pummelo. Chef Luis Vallas has created a torrija using the albedo of Lumia from Valencia, as a clear tribute to this historic fruit and the typical Valencian dessert.