[Sca-cooks] Re: limes

[Terry Decker]

The citron is closely related to the lemon, but the fruit is larger and the 
peel is thicker.  Citron is primarily harvested for the peel.  It originates 
in India or SE Asia and was being cultivated in Persia by around the 5th 
Century BCE.  It was brought into the Mediterranean basin (under the name 
Medean apple) about 325 BCE with some of Alexander's returning armies.

There is some scholarly debate about whether or not lemons and citrons came 
west at the same time.  There is some evidence that lemons and oranges, as 
well as citrons, were under cultivation in Italy by 100 CE, but the evidence 
is shakey and the point is arguable.  It is demostrable that the lemon was 
under Moorish cultivation in the Mediterranean basin between 1100 and 1200 
CE.

I know some people refer to candied peel as citron, but the correct catch 
all is "citrus" for the fruit and candied citrus peel for the fruitcake 
filler.

Bear


----- Original Message ----- 

Odd question, i've always understood citron to be specifically lemon.  Does
candied lime have a different name or is it under the catchall of "citron"?

Odriana vander Brugghe