Hebrew: אֶתְרוֹג מָרוֹקָאִי, etrog moroka’i
Family: Rutaceae
Scientific name: Citrus medica
In Morocco, etrog trees grow in areas where there has never been a concern of grafting, reducing the risk of them being derived from grafted stock. Additionally, these trees grow separately from other citrus species, eliminating cross-pollination with other citrus varieties.
Many Moroccan etrogim, especially the elongated ones, are seedless. This phenomenon is also observed in other citrus species and may be related to the local growing conditions. One of the distinguishing features of the Moroccan etrog is that its flowers are white-cream in color, without the pinkish hue seen in other etrog varieties. Many of these etrogim have a pitam (style), and most are seedless.
Records of the kashrut of Moroccan etrogim appear in rabbinic writings dating back to 5620 (1860) and have been endorsed by many halachic authorities.
From a genetic standpoint, the perception that the Yemenite and Moroccan etrogim are more authentic or pedigreed than the Israeli etrog is unfounded, as their genetic composition is nearly identical.
Terumot & ma’aserot (offerings & tithes): The Sages noted that the etrog resembles vegetables in its need for abundant irrigation. Therefore, they ruled that concerning terumot and ma’aserot, the etrog should be treated like a vegetable, meaning that “its tithe follows the time of its harvest”—that is, the etrog is halachically considered to belong to the year in which it was harvested. However, this ruling applies only to the laws of terumot and ma’aserot.
Orlah (waiting three years for fruit) and kedushat shevi’it (Sabbatical year sanctity): For the laws of orlah and the kedushat shevi’it, the fruit’s status follows the time of the fruit’s initial formation (chanatah).
Arba minim and etrog
What to look out for when purchasing arba minim
Netilat lulav: guidelines and customs
The superiority of taking an Israeli etrog
The etrog: Fun facts and important information
Grated and hybrid etrogim
Grafted and hybrid etrogim; Questions on grafted etrogim
Is it ok to plant a Yemenite etrog next to a lemon tree?
Shemitah
On etrog trees and other citruses during shemitah
Eight-year etrogim in and out of Israel
