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Meyer Lemon

What is meyer lemon?

· Sarah Mitchell

Key facts

Scientific name Citrus × meyeri[1]
Native place China[1]
Introduced to U.S. 1908[4]
Named after Frank N. Meyer[4]
Fruit color orange-yellow skin and pulp[5]
Tree family Rutaceae[8]

A Meyer lemon is a citrus fruit and tree, generally described as a hybrid of a lemon with a mandarin orange or sweet orange, and it is native to China. It is less acidic, sweeter, and more aromatic than common lemons, with orange-yellow skin and pulp.

Context

The Meyer lemon is a citrus fruit and tree, generally described as a hybrid of a lemon with a mandarin orange or sweet orange, and it is native to China [1]. It was introduced to the U.S. in 1908 and named after Frank N. Meyer [4]. The fruit has orange-yellow skin and pulp, and is less acidic, sweeter, and more aromatic than common lemons [5]. It is smaller, rounder, and has thinner skin than regular lemons [3]. A virus problem led to an improved virus-free variety [6].

Documented claims

  • Meyer lemon is a hybrid of a lemon and a mandarin orange or sweet orange. [2]
  • Meyer lemon is less acidic, sweeter, and more aromatic than common lemons. [4]
  • Meyer lemon has smaller, rounder fruit with thinner skin than regular lemons. [3]
  • Meyer lemon is suitable as a substitute for regular lemon. [7]

Questions and answers

What's so special about Meyer lemons?

Meyer lemons are less acidic, sweeter, and more aromatic than regular lemons, with a thinner skin and orange-yellow color [5].

What is the difference between a lemon and a Meyer lemon?

Meyer lemons are smaller, rounder, and have thinner skin than regular lemons, and they are less acidic and sweeter [3].

Can you eat a Meyer lemon?

Yes, Meyer lemons are edible and can be used as a substitute for regular lemon in recipes [7].

Sources

  1. Improved Meyer lemon | Givaudan Citrus Variety Collection at ... — citrusvariety.ucr.edu (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. Meyer Lemon - UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions — gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  3. What's The Difference Between Meyer Lemons And Lemons? — southernliving.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  4. What Is a Meyer Lemon? — scshca.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  5. Definition of MEYER LEMON — merriam-webster.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  6. Meyer Lemon - The Nibble — thenibble.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  7. Meyer Lemons vs Regular Lemons: Taste, Uses, & More — webstaurantstore.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  8. Meyer Lemon (Citrus x limon) - Gardenia.net — gardenia.net (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in Things