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Lemon - The rebellious fruit

When life gives you lemons, eat them.

If you’ve been following the Equal Food blog lately, chances are you’ve been smelling like garlic . But fear not, Equal Foodie! Lemon, this sunny superfood, might just be the best way to keep you feeling and smelling great during these hot summer months.

Lemons (Citrus limon) are perhaps the most regularly consumed fruit in the world. From detox retreats to nightclubs, this bright and versatile fruit seems to follow people wherever they go. But it wasn’t always that way. In fact, while we associate lemons with the sunny, coastal landscapes of southern Europe and California, this fruit has spent most of human history out of the global spotlight.

The Hidden History of Lemon

Although its exact origins remain a mystery to this day, archaeologists have located the earliest evidence of lemons and their larger, less juicy ancestor, citron, in the Eastern Himalayas. From there, Muslim traders brought the fruit to the Middle East and beyond, where it became deeply rooted in the cultures of Jordan, Egypt, Persia and Jerusalem.

Although archaeological evidence for this migration is elusive, there are some clues that lead us to believe in this order of events, namely the Persian origin of the word “lemon”, as well as the first records of lemonade coming from Egypt. Although at the time it was known as Kashkab and made from fermented barley, mint, rue, black pepper and citron leaf, this popular drink represents the first moment of recognition of the refreshing qualities of the bitter fruit.

It took about half a millennium, until around the first century AD, for citron and lemon to reach southern Europe via Muslim trade routes and Greco-Roman conquests. There, they became prized for their fragrance, plague-repelling qualities and ability to neutralise poisons. Theophrastus of Eressos, the Greek father of botany, described the fruit’s ability to “improve the breath”, a characteristic use that would persist throughout history. Indeed, almost 2,000 years later, during the reign of Louis XIV of France, women continued to apply lemon juice to their lips to perfume and redden them.

But in ancient times, lemons enjoyed an elitist status and were reserved for the upper classes only. Fresco paintings often depicted lemon trees on the walls of wealthy villas in the Vesuvius area, attesting to the fruit's chosen status. Thus, lemons remained quite rare among society at large due to their exotic origin, medicinal value and unique scent. Even the use of the fruit was reserved more for medicinal purposes than for daily consumption, a notion supported by its symbolic link with longevity and fertility.

The “golden apples,” as they were known in Ancient Greece, were even mentioned in Greek mythology as the dowry of Hera, Zeus’ wife, who kept them hidden in her garden until Hercules stole them and gave them to mankind. And while lemons are now universal enough for everyone to enjoy, there are definitely reasons why this fruit was so coveted by those in power. For one, lemons are so beneficial to people’s health.

Although the medicinal value of lemon fruit was widely accepted in ancient times, it was only in the 18th century that this belief was proven in what was one of the first clinical trials recorded in medical studies. Scurvy is a disease caused by a lack of vitamin C that essentially stops our tissue from regenerating, leading to long-lasting sores and necrosis. It was a common sight among pirates and sailors who spent months at sea without access to fruit and vegetables. When James Lind boarded HMS Salisbury as a surgical assistant in the Royal Navy, he conducted a number of tests and administered a variety of remedies to sick sailors, from seawater and cider to lemon juice.

At the end of the tests, the patients treated with lemon juice were cured. As a result, lemon became the first fruit with proven healing effects.

Benefits of lemon

The British Navy, or “limeys” as they came to be known thanks to their constant supply of citrus fruits, owe their salvation to the high vitamin C content of lemons. In fact, 100g of lemon juice contains more than half the daily value of vitamin C, making it a truly powerful remedy for the skin and immune system. So if you ever feel a cold coming on, mix some lemon juice, turmeric and crushed garlic in hot water to boost your body’s defences.

In addition to vitamins, lemons also contain a number of antioxidant phytochemicals, including polyphenols, terpenes, and tannins. These anti-allergy and anti-cancer chemicals work wonders when it comes to fighting free radicals (which are known to destroy healthy cells). But lemon juice doesn’t just benefit your health. It can also greatly enhance the foods it’s added to. Lemon juice can tenderize a steak or prevent bananas, avocados, and berries from ripening too quickly and turning brown. In other words, there’s really no excuse to avoid this versatile superfood !

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