Freaky Fruit

When Life

gives you lemons Freaky Fruit

In addition to the hundreds of varieties of the citrus we’ve already

discussed, there are some rather strange and more unusual citrus fruits with which you might not be familiar, but are worth a try. You may just find some quite apPEELing!

Ugli FruitDon’t let the ugli fruit’s name scare you off. The thick, wrinkled peel of this Jamaican tangelo hides sweet orange fruit. To prepare it, peel using a sharp knife, removing all of the bitter white pith. Working over a bowl, cut in between the membranes to release the sections. It’s delicious in salads!

Calamondins

This small, round fruit looks somewhat like a tangerine and has very acid pulp. Fruits are yellow to orange colored, and can readily used as a substitute for limes and lemons. Calamondins also make an attractive and cold-hardy indoor or container plant.

BergamotThe essential oil in bergamot is what gives Earl Grey and Lady Grey teas their distinctive floral fragrance. As a bitter orange-lemon hybrid, bergamot is too sour to eat, but its unique aroma adds character to marmalades, preserves, and baked goods. Make a delicious curd by replacing all or some of the lemons in your favorite lemon curd recipe with bergamot. Add tea-like flavor to scones or cookies by using bergamot zest instead of lemon zest.

Buddha’s Hand

The bright yellow Buddha’s Hand definitely surely wins the award for most unusual looking! Not just the ultimate fruit-bowl conversation piece, this bizarre fruit has a delicate perfume and a number of uses. It is essentially all peel and pith, with no juice. The mild, aromatic pith makes delicious candied citrus zest. Thinly sliced Buddha’s hand can also be used to add flavor to sugar, salt or vodka.

Variegated Pink LemonsTypically available from October to February, the variegated pink lemon has a yellow-and greenstreaked skin that becomes a deeper yellow as it ripens. They're beautiful in displays, either whole or cut up for garnish. Unfortunately, the pink fruit doesn’t yield a pink-colored juice.

Finger Limes Available from late July through January, the small slender finger limes are usually bright green, but may also be dark brown or purple in color, which indicates that the fruit grew in a cooler climate. You can use the zest just like lime zest, but the real treat is found inside of the fruit. Slice the limes in half to reveal the citrus pearls, which resemble caviar. The pearls have a pleasant crunch and bright, acidic flavor. They make a perfect garnish for raw oysters or a fun topping for your frozen yogurt. YuzuThe fragrant Japanese-born Yuzu is similar to a sour orange, not good for eating raw, but it has important uses as an additive and flavoring. It’s a key ingredient in ponzu sauce and yuzu kosho, an up-and-coming condiment that droves of chefs are increasingly adding to their culinary arsenal.

Whether you sip, squeeze, or slice it, peel, paint, or plant it, we think everyone should add more zest to their life with some sunny citrus. If you make any of our recipes, create a new citrus cocktail, or dream up a new dessert, be sure to take a photo, post to Facebook or Instagram, and tag us @elegantislandliving. We love seeing how you’re being inspired!

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