15 Interesting Facts about Lemon
With the summer fast approaching, everyone rejoices in a refreshingly cool summer drink like lemonade. Those bright yellow fruit pack in many juicy facts than we possibly know.
From its origin to its availability and usage, lemons are a quintessential inclusion in most people’s diets. So let us look at some of the facts about lemon that you possibly didn’t know.
Basic Information about Lemon
- Name: Lemon
- Latin name: Citrus limon
- Description:
- Size – 2-3 inches
- Color – Vivid yellow
- Shape – Oval, oblong
- Flavor – Sour with acidic notes
- Types of lemon trees: Avalon, Variegated Pink, Verna, Primofiori, Bearss, Dorshapo, Lisbon, Baboon, etc.
- Habitat: Tropical and sub-tropical
- Lemon farming: Can be grown in all soil types. Light soil with optimal drainage is a must. Requires a pH between 5.5-and 7.5. Light loam and well-drained soils are ideal for cultivation.
- Uses and benefits: optimal for physical health, skin health, and prevents Scurvy. Lemon growth and care: Requires fertilizers once a month and needs to be grown in brightly lit areas. The plants require a minimum of 5 hours of sunlight each day.
15 Interesting Facts about Lemon
Did you know that lemon differs in appearance in different parts of the world? They are either elongated, oblong, yellow, or small, spherical, and green. The diversity is pronounced.
- If that piques your interest, let us walk you through more unique facts about this juicy and Vitamin C-packed fruit.
- Lemons are predominantly native to Asia. History reports suggest that lemons originated in north-western India. It was later introduced to southern Italy around 200AD, followed by Egypt in 700AD. However, it was the Arabs who made lemon more mainstream across the Mediterranean during the second century.
- Surprisingly enough, lemons are a hybrid fruit. It is a cross between sour orange and citron. Although this origin story has a lot of unsure speculations surrounding it, researchers do credit it as a possibility.
- A single lemon tree can produce up to 600lbs of lemon each year. Also, the growth of lemons isn’t season-bound, which means that lemons can grow on the trees year-round.
- Botanists believe that there are predominantly three types of lemons, including Bearss, Eureka, and Lisbon. However, with its availability in more tropical countries and cross-breeding practices, there are a lot of others available too.
- According to statistics, around 90% of lemon cultivation in the United States happens in Arizona and California.
- An average-sized lemon can produce up to 3 tablespoons of juice. Also, a standard organically grown lemon contains 6-8 seeds. This will vary depending on the farming practices and the country the lemon is grown in.
- Nutritional facts about lemon suggest that it contains 5% citric acid, is a rich source of Vitamin C and contains only 15 calories.
- In ancient history, lemons were so rare and not accessible that kings gifted them to other kingdoms as a token of appreciation. Later in 1849, during the Californian Gold Rush, the availability of lemons was so scarce that the miners were willing to pay a hefty amount of money for a single lemon.
- During the Renaissance period, women in high cadre used lemon to redden their lips naturally. Lemon trees were also a sign of status and elite during the Victorian period and were grown in several houses as a sign of prestige.
- Once a year, Menton in French Riviera celebrates Annual Lemon Festival between February and March.
- From the perspective of science experiments, you need around 500 lemons to power a flashlight bulb by generating enough electricity.
- According to World Record, the heaviest lemon weighed 9.7 pounds and was harvested in 2003.
- FAOSTAT reported that the annual lemon and lime production in 2018 was 21 million, out of which 3.4 million were produced in India, making it the largest lemon producer globally. Besides India, lemon is abundantly found in China, Mexico, Turkey, Brazil, and Argentina.
- Lemon is predominantly used to treat a rare Vitamin C deficiency called Scurvy.
Conclusion
The facts about lemons just keep on giving. How many of these did you know about? Also, do you know any other lemon facts that we didn’t mention here in the list? Share it with us in the comments.