What is it?
We all know lemons as the bright yellow, face-puckering-ly sour citrus but did you know there are several varieties of these fresh-flavored little fruits? The most commonly used is the sweeter yet still very tart, Meyer Lemon. Lemons like other common citrus contain a healthy amount of vitamin C.
How to use it
While choosing the best lemons, search for ones with thinner skin, these will most likely result in more flesh and juice. You can add the juice to water, marinades, or directly on top of foods for a fresh hit of flavor. Don’t throw out the rinds, use a zester to add fresh lemon flavor to baked goods. Also, lemon tree leaves are often used for tea.
Fun fact
Lemon trees produce fruit all year round and can produce up to 600 pounds of lemons in a year. While native to Asia, California and Arizona produce most of the lemon crop that the United States uses.
Recipes with Lemon
If you have extra lemons on hand, a squeeze of juice can brighten richer recipes like Croque Monsieur.
If you want another everyday produce guide, our carrots page covers a versatile vegetable that pairs well with citrus in both savory dishes and fresh juices.