Dried Lemon Peel

Dried Lemon Peel is the outer rind of the lemon, which has had most of the pith—the inner white membrane—removed. The peel is the portion of the fruit that houses its volatile oils—if you twist a lemon slice, you can see the oils squirt from its pores. Fresh Dried Lemon Peel has a volatile oil content of about 2% by weight; when the peel is dehydrated, the oils concentrate. Dried Lemon Peel has a sparkling clean fragrance and a tart, puckery citrus tang with a hint of flowery lavender essence floating around the edges of its aroma and of its flavor that can, if overdone, border on bitter.

The exact point of the emergence of lemons, and other citrus fruits, has not yet been pinpointed, but there is strong evidence that citrus came to us all from the foothills of the Himalayas, about eight million years ago. Climate change brought drier weather to that area, creating a wider swath of land in which lemons could propagate. By the year 200 CE, lemons had made their way to Italy, quickly spreading along the Mediterranean coast to Spain and Portugal in the Iberian Peninsula. Christopher Columbus brought lemon seeds to the New World when he landed on Hispaniola in 1493; by 1781, they were being cultivated in both Florida and California, ushering in an industry that built these two states into agricultural powerhouses.

Tips From Our Kitchen

Our Dried Lemon Peel can be used dehydrated or it can be reconstituted, depending on what you need. If you want to reconstitute the Dried Lemon Peel, place in a dish and cover with hot water for 15-20 minutes. Drain before using. Use Dried Lemon Peel to make lemon pickle, chutney, or marmalade. Include with a ginger-soy marinade for a vibrant stir-fry with chicken, fish, or tofu. Add to roasted asparagus. Flavor the base of your risotto with Dried Lemon Peel. Use it as an infusion in beer, or try steeping your own bitters.

Our Dried Lemon Peel is highly concentrated, so only substitute 1/3 the amount of grated Dried Lemon Peel for any recipe that calls for fresh lemon zest.

Our Dried Lemon Peel is cultivated either in Florida or California.

This product is certified kosher.

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