Lemon

Lemon is a yellow or green colored fruit which is popular with several names, we know it as a nimbu, limboo, lime, sour lime or citrus lemon. Lemons are big or small round or egg shaped fruits, consists sweet to sour taste. It comes under the category of fruit. Lemon can be green to yellow in color.

It consists the citric acid which gives a tart taste, on its maturity period. Lemon has a great and pleasing aroma. When it is to be peeled, a nice aromatic fragrance spreads all over. Normally the pulp of lemon is pale yellow. The nature is juicy and acidic and the skin may be thin or thick.

You can observe the ovoid seeds at the core of the fragrant lemon. Lemon can be chopped or grated, as per the requirement. Lemon is used for making lots of Indian recipes. It’s scope is vast. It is not only important for making the Indian food, but also it is widely used for making various desserts, cocktails, mock-tails, salads and many more.

There are different-different uses of chopped lemongrass, grated lemon rind, fresh lemon juice, lemon leaf, lemon wedges and lemon slices as per the requirement of the recipe. At the time of selecting lemons, always go for the mature one, having the orange to yellow color with a nice, aromatic flavor.

If you are choosing lemon with thin peel or skin, then it will be sweet in taste. Always ignore the lemons having blemishes, scars, spots or one which are ripped. You can see variety of lemons in the vegetable market, such as Meyer Lemon, hybrid of orange and so on.

These lemons consists less amount of acidic content and tart compare to the other types of lemons. You will get seedless lemons also in the market, they are known as Armstrong Lemon and they have no seeds at all.

USES:

1. Grated lemon rind is the peel or skin of the fruit lemon, which is greatly used in baking goods.
2. Grated lemon is also highly used for the salad dressings and garnishing of various mock-tails and drinks.
3. Sweet lemon which is famous as mosambi is a healthy fruit to eat, its pulp can be used for making the tasty juice.
4. Lemon juice can be made by crushing the the pulp of lemon and to be used for making various types of beverages and lemonades.
5. Lemon juice is greatly used in cosmetics, facials and bleaching products.
6. You can bring shining to your copper vessels if cleaning them with the lemon juice.
7. Lemon leaf has immensely used for herbal products, It can be used with the combination of other aromatic ingredients like nilgiri, rosemary, etc in brewing baths.
8. Chopped Lemon grass is usually used for making variety of salads and desserts, it has a great use for garnishing and presentation of dishes as well.
9. The thick and thin slices of lemon are generally used for garnishing the glasses of mock tails, drinks and juices.
10. Now a days, there has been a craze of lemon tea, lemon coffee, lemon pie and iced lemon treats, which are only possible with this aromatic lemon fruit.
11. The horizontal wedges or halves of lemon are highly used during the photography sessions of food recipes and drinks.
12. Delicious soups can be made with lemon.
13. The slices of lemon can be used for garnishing various fish, meat and chicken recipes.
14. You can make sweet and tangy pickles from this lemon.
15. The skin or layer of lemon is used for garnishing mock-tails, cocktails and several desserts.
16. Lemon contains citric acid and tart flavor, that’s why now a days plenty of lemon flavored drinks and candies can be seen in the market.
17. It is true that maximum preparation of Indian food is done with lemon fruit in one or another way.

STORAGE:

1. Lemons should be stored in air tight containers in the refrigerator.
2. They should be stored under proper refrigeration temperature, else they loose their taste and moisture very soon.
3. It is advisable to consume the lemon until it starts ripening.
4. Lemon can be refrigerated for 5-6 days.

BENEFITS:

1. Lemon is an effective treatment to cure the dandruff from the hairs. Hairs become shiny and silky if lemon is applied at least once a week.
2. Lemon peel works great for acne, scars and blemishes.
3. It is greatly used for herbal facials.
4. Lemon contains Vitamins A, C and B complex, which is necessary for the body processes.
5. Lemon is full of calcium, iron, potassium and many minerals.
6. People who are suffering from the dehydration should consume lemon, as it has a great amount of water content.
7. Because of its cooling effects, Lemon can be consumed during fever and jaundice.
8. People who are on diet, should use lemon as a great diet fruit.
9. The combination of few lemon drops, honey and warm water works great for the constipation and weight reduction.
10. Lemon consists a good dietary fiber with a low glycemic index, which is ultimately best for the diabetics.