Citrus Trees

The lemon (C. limon) is an evergreen tree native to Indochina and cultivated there for thousands of years. The lemon was later imported to the basin of the Mediterranean Sea, where it has been cultivated for at least 2,000 years. Lemon trees are very attractive, especially when their fragrant white or yellow flowers are in bloom. However, the fruits of lemons are quite tart and bitter, containing about 5% citric acid, but only 0.5% sugar.

The fruits of lemons are picked when they are not yet ripe and their rinds are still green. This is done because lemon fruits deteriorate quickly if they are allowed to ripen on the tree. Commercial lemons develop their more familiar, yellow-colored rinds some time after they are harvested while they are being stored or transported to markets.

Although few people have the fortitude to eat raw lemons, the processed juice of this species can be used to flavor a wide range of sweetened drinks, including lemonade. Lemon flavoring is also used to manufacture many types of carbonated beverages, often in combination with the flavoring of lime. A bleaching agent and stain remover can also be made from lemon juice.