Untreated lemons
Most lemons sold in stores have inedible peel . For those who care about the quality and authenticity of what they eat, the treated peel can represent a limitation in the kitchen, especially in the preparation of desserts and dishes that require the use of lemon peel.
Below we will give you some tips to help you recognize untreated lemons and understand where you can buy them.
Untreated Lemons: How to Recognize Them
Conventional fruit appears aesthetically flawless and free of imperfections. The peel, moreover, has a particularly shiny appearance, due to some processes that are carried out after harvesting, such as waxing and anti-mold treatment, which have the purpose of making the fruit more aesthetically appealing and of prolonging its shelf life, respectively.
On the other hand, untreated organic lemons , like organic fruit in general, naturally have some imperfections, such as spots or marks on the peel, and a shape that is not very regular. The aesthetic appearance can also depend on seasonal trends and attacks by harmful organisms, since these factors do not manifest themselves with the same intensity every year.
Of course, there are organic fruits that are also beautiful, but it is very difficult to find all the untreated organic lemons in the same box that are perfect and homogeneous.
When purchasing certified organic products, we therefore recommend that you pay attention to the external appearance of the fruit, in order to avoid buying products that have undergone treatments.
To be sure that the product is organic, also check that the label contains all the information (certification body, product data, manufacturer, etc.) or, if you buy directly from an organic company, request the certificate.
Finally, we would like to point out that much fruit is labelled as “natural”, which does not mean “organic” at all, since, unlike certified organic products, it can be treated with chemically synthesised products, as there are no regulations that prevent this.
Only organic farming, in fact, prohibits the use of chemically synthesised products for fertilization and for treatments against harmful organisms and guarantees that production takes place in a sustainable way and with low environmental impact.
Where to buy untreated lemons
It is not easy to find untreated lemons for sale in stores. You can buy them from some organic retailers, however it is important to check that the fruit has not been waxed (which gives it a shiny appearance) and/or treated with an anti-mold.
Your trusted greengrocer can also give you some advice on this matter and supply you with untreated lemons.
Certainly one of the safest ways to have untreated fruit is to buy organic lemons directly from companies that offer product traceability (i.e. identification of the company that produced it) and verify the characteristics of the lemons with the producer.
On this site, starting from November, it will be possible to buy untreated organic lemons , picked from the plant and delivered to your home throughout Italy within 48 hours.