The (not so) bitter lemon: New fruit is crossed with mandarin for sweeter taste
Worldwide, Daily news | ankakh | January 12, 2013 18:55
The shape bears all the hallmarks of a traditional lemon, but the orange hue offers a clue as to what this fruit tastes like.
For the normally bitter flavour is absent from the Meyer lemon (pictured) – a naturally occurring cross between a lemon and a mandarin.
The first sweet lemon to be sold commercially in this country can be eaten much like an orange, but it is best used in thin slices – peel, pith and all.
The fruit, native toChina, was discovered growing by Frank Meyer, an employee of the US Department of Agriculture who was exploring the country at the turn of the last century.
The skin is fragrant and thin, while the flesh is a dark yellow and contains up to ten seeds.
Historically the thin skin meant it was difficult to transport, which has held back exports in the past.
Meyer imported the fruit intoAmericain 1908 and it has gone on to become very popular as a culinary accessory, used in cakes and cocktails.
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