Tag: Hesperidium

Did you know that most commercial citrus varieties are hybrids derived from just three ancestral species: the citron, pomelo, and mandarin? This complex heritage is key to understanding exactly what qualifies as citrus and its many defining characteristics.

Lemons are botanically classified as a hesperidium, which is a modified berry with a tough, leathery rind. This might surprise many, who simply consider it a fruit for its tangy juice and bright zest. So, what kind of food is a lemon, and how does this botanical fact influence its role in our kitchens?

By botanical definition, a staggering number of foods we call vegetables are technically fruits. So, what class of food is lemon? Both science and culinary tradition agree that the tart, yellow fruit from the lemon tree is, in fact, a fruit.

While most people can easily identify a lemon or an orange, the defining scientific characteristics of a citrus fruit are less common knowledge. A fruit is qualified as citrus based on a specific set of botanical traits, chemical properties, and its membership in the plant genus *Citrus*. These factors combine to create the distinctive, flavorful fruits we know and love, from the juicy mandarin to the tart lime.

While both are sources of vitamin C, a common misconception is that strawberries are citrus fruits, but this is botanically incorrect. The flavorful, juicy red strawberry comes from the rose family (*Rosaceae*), a completely different plant group from the citrus family (*Rutaceae*). This distinction explains their unique flavor, structure, and cultivation methods.

In 2022, 76 million tonnes of oranges were produced globally, and while most people know them as a fruit, their botanical classification is far more precise. To properly answer the question, "What category do oranges fall under?", one must delve into the science of fruit taxonomy.