Lemon
Lemons are the bright, zesty stars of the citrus world—sunny, sour, and full of surprises! Whether you’re drizzling lemon juice over grilled fish, whisking lemon curd into a tart, or sipping a refreshing lemon drop martini, these golden fruits pack a flavorful punch. But there’s a lot more to lemons than meets the eye.
Lemons belong to the citrus family Rutaceae, alongside popular fruits like grapefruit, oranges, pomelo, clementines, mandarins, and tangerines. Unlike most fruits, lemons are thought to be a hybrid of sour orange and citron—and have been around since at least the first century AD!
Bright, bold, and bursting with benefits, lemons are one of the most versatile fruits on the planet—and they’ve got a few zesty surprises up their peel!
- Lemons were once so valuable that they were used as gifts for kings and as currency in ancient trade routes.
- In the 1700s, British sailors consumed lemons to prevent scurvy, a vitamin C deficiency disease. This earned them the nickname “limeys,” though limes like the Persian lime later became more common onboard.
- The average lemon contains about 30–40 mg of vitamin C—half of your recommended daily intake.
- They float! Like oranges and clementines, lemons have a porous rind that makes them buoyant in water.
- Lemon trees can produce fruit year-round in warm climates. Some varieties bloom multiple times a year, making them especially rewarding to grow.
- The famous Meyer lemon is not a true lemon—it’s a sweet hybrid between a lemon and an orange or mandarin.
- Italy’s Amalfi Coast is famous for its giant lemons, used to make limoncello, a popular lemon liqueur.
- Lemon essential oil is used in aromatherapy for its uplifting scent and natural antibacterial properties.
- Ever heard the phrase “when life gives you lemons”? This iconic saying, urging optimism and resilience, has turned the humble fruit into a global symbol of positivity.
- Want more citrus fun? Explore the Pomelo, the largest citrus fruit and an ancestor of grapefruit, or the small but mighty Calamondin!
Need another reason to love lemons? A single tree can produce hundreds of fruits each year, and they grow beautifully in pots, making them perfect for home gardeners. Want to try it? Explore our lemon growing guide to learn how to grow your own lemon tree!
