Lemon

The lemon is a species of small evergreen citrus tree, a hybrid of the citron and the bitter orange, whose origins are uncertain but for which some evidence points to the 1st millennium BC in what is now northeastern India. Its yellow fruit is used throughout the world primarily for its juice, which is about 5 to 6 percent citric acid and gives the fruit its characteristic sour taste, making it a key ingredient in drinks and foods such as lemonade and lemon meringue pie; the pulp and rind are also used in cooking and baking. In 2024 world production of lemons reached 23 million tonnes, led by India and Mexico, which together accounted for 31 percent of the total.