“Lemons are like people. As long as the insides are OK, it doesn’t matter if they don’t look perfect.”
—Dan Haggarty posted on Quora
After sliding down the slide a few times from the play structure we had bought Lyla for Christmas, this little bundle of joy and energy was ready to do something else. “Pick lemon,” she said. The lemon tree in our daughter Michelle and husband Kyle’s back yard is just a few feet away. I picked Lyla up and ‘Lo and Behold,' there was the most unimaginable looking lemon I had ever seen, and I am willing to bet the same goes for Lyla in her two years of life. In fact, she looked bemused.
When Beyonce recorded her latest “When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade,” I don’t think metaphorically these were the type of lemons she had in mind.
Don’t get me wrong I have seen other deformed-looking fruits and vegetables before, and they are edible. There is even a market for them, but you will not see them in the general food markets.
However, there is a variety of lemon called “The Buddha’s Hand Citron" sold by specialty grocers and Asian markets around the country. What makes it unique is that it has long fingered tentacles at the end and rarely has any juice on the inside. While the Buddha’s Hand has no juice, the fruit itself is edible and can be used to make Citron Sun-Tea, can be blended with Vodka and sugar, into a Buddhachello, has strong antifungal and antibacterial properties, natural perfume or room freshener, used in salads, keep away insects (Citronella) and many other uses.
The Buddha’s Hand actually has a significant role to play in Buddhism, where it is considered to be a special offering in temples, and used during New Years’ in China (Photo). It likely originated in India more than 2,000 years ago. The fruit is a symbol of happiness, longevity, and good fortune and typically given as a New Years’ gift. The finger-like extensions of the hand resemble ‘praying hands,' and its’ yellow color represents the 'Yin and Yang’ or balance of life. A story to tell Lyla when she's a little older.
