[Sca-cooks] Lemons in Middle English

[Terry Decker]

Other than some authorities saying that Crusaders brought lemons back with 
them, what is the evidence?  The Crusaders might have taken them home, but 
how would most of them get lemon trees to grow?  In any event, the Arabs 
probably introduced lemons into most of the areas in Europe where they would 
grow by the time the Crusades began.  IIRC, the taxes of the Kingdom of 
Jerusalem lists lemons, which means the Crusaders were aware of them.

Now, having been introduced to lemons on the Cruasdes, the Crusaders might 
have wanted to continue their lemon fix after returning home.  That might 
explain how the lemon trade out of Spain and Sicily got started.

BTW, Andalusian lemons are supposed to have been marketed in Paris during 
the 13th Century.

Bear

> My optimism stems from the stubborn belief that, if the Crusaders were 
> carrying back lemons to
> Europe after the invasion of The Holy Land, then certainly they must have 
> found some merit in
> them.  And, if they found merit in them, then they would likely wish to 
> obtain more, and use them
> more frequently.  I am (ever) confident that there were ships travelling 
> from the Orient just
> bursting with lemons )okay...maybe not bursting).
>
> Also consider that quite a few countries bordering Europe at the time were 
> seemingly in love with
> the lemon.  Hey, a couple million unwashed heathens can't be wrong, 
> right??
>
> Maybe I'll come up with a great big goose egg, but I'm going to look a 
> little deeper into this for
> the time being.  Maybe, in the process, I'll gain an appreciation of 
> Middle English..... but don't
> hold your breath. :)
>
> William de Grandfort