Lemons are evergreen small trees belonging to the Rutaceae family and Citrus genus. Lemons have a fragrant aroma and can be used to remove odors and alleviate irritability. In daily life, we often use lemons to make beverages, with lemon water being the most common. While we focus on the incredibly sour flesh of lemons, we often forget about the faint fragrance of lemon peel. Can lemon peel be eaten?
Major Components of Lemon Peel
Lemon peel mainly refers to the thick skin of fresh lemons, which can be found dried in the market. Lemon peel contains lemon essential oil, which is the source of the lemon's aroma. In addition, lemon peel contains substances such as tannins, oxalic acid, calcium, and pectin. The bitter substances in lemon peel, such as hesperidin and naringin, are flavonoids that have anti-cancer and anti-tumor effects.
Can Lemon Peel be Used to Make Infused Water?
Yes. In Japan, when we talk about lemon tea, we think of black tea with a slice of fresh lemon. However, in Europe and America, lemon tea refers to tea made solely from lemon peel or a blend of black tea and lemon peel. When it comes to making infused tea, lemon peel is more suitable than the flesh. Its fragrance and the subtle bitterness from the flavonoids combined with the acidity of the lemon flesh create a refreshing and unique flavor.
Can Lemon Peel be Eaten?
Lemon peel can be eaten, but it has a strong bitter taste that many people find unpleasant. It is generally not recommended to eat fresh lemon peel directly. However, if you want to absorb the beneficial components of the lemon peel, you can process it in various ways to make it edible.
How to Eat Lemon Peel
1. Honey Lemon Slices: Clean the lemon and slice it without peeling. Place some lemon slices in a clean, dry glass jar, and then add honey to cover the slices. Repeat this process until all the lemon slices are in the jar, making sure they are completely submerged in honey. The preserved lemon slices can be used to make infused water or eaten directly.
2. Lemon Marmalade: Scrub the lemon peel with salt, rinse and dry it. Cut the lemon peel into thin strips, and juice the lemon flesh. Mix the finely ground lemon peel with sugar, put it in a pot, and add lemon juice until the sugar dissolves. Add egg yolk to the pot, mix well, and add butter until the mixture is edible. Finally, store the lemon marmalade in a clean, airtight container and refrigerate it after it cools.
Other Uses of Lemon Peel
1. Moisturizing the Skin: Soaking lemon peel in bathwater can release its fragrance and the oils and nutrients it contains, moisturizing the skin.
2. Removing Odors: Adding lemon peel to dishwater can remove fishy odors from utensils. Lemon peel can also be used to remove odors from kitchen utensils, pots or pans, refrigerators, and hands. Lemon has deodorizing effects.
3. Making Ice Cubes: When making ice cubes, sprinkle some lemon peel shreds in the ice tray to add fragrance to the ice.
4. Removing Stains: Lemon peel can be used to wipe away blackened bottoms of pots, yellow stains on sinks or bathtubs, and dirt on kitchen tiles.
