Lemon zest

Lemon zest is the outer layer of lemon peel that contains a large amount of essential oils. To obtain this spice, used for culinary purposes, lemon fruits are washed, scalded with boiling water and zest is cut off from them in the form of a spiral tape. Do not forget that the knife must be very sharp, otherwise you will not achieve the perfect subtlety. If the peel is cut quite thick, then the color of the zest after drying will acquire a yellowish-brown shade, and if you do everything right, it will remain lemon yellow, almost unchanged.

In cooking, lemon zest is used mainly when baking muffins, cakes, charlots, puddings and cakes. Often added to meat dishes, salads, and, finally, just in tea. This will give your favourite drink the taste and aroma of fresh lemons. The calorie content of lemon zest is 47 kcal per hundred grams of spice.

By the way, this spice was not always popular: for example, in ancient times, the benefits of lemon peel were not understood and called it foul-smelling. Only with the onset of the Middle Ages did it come to be considered a spice that participated in the confectionery sacrament. Having caught the subtle aroma of yellow skin, culinary experts began to use it in the preparation of soups, pour, sauces and various gravy. Interestingly, in Spain they still prefer to sprinkle veal with this fragrant spice, using it as an alternative to salt. The main secret is to be sure to add a natural flavor a couple of minutes before readiness.

Benefits of lemon zest

One cannot fail to mention the benefits of lemon zest as a strong antibacterial agent: if your throat hurts or purulent sore throat has not been spared, just chew the crust and it will become much easier.

The beneficial properties of lemon zest are due to the huge content of vitamin C (this vital substance is almost three times more in it than in the flesh of a mature fruit). Therefore, regular consumption of this fragrant and refined spice in food will have a positive effect on your health, and immunity will "thank" you in the midst of ARVI epidemics and colds with excellent well-being.

Harm to lemon zest

In addition to the indisputable advantages of this spice, one cannot but mention the dangers of lemon zest, which can manifest itself in the presence of peptic ulcer. Also, in addition to harmful effects on tooth enamel, lemon peel can provoke the appearance of allergic reactions, which is characteristic of almost all citrus plants. If you have increased acidity, you will have to either limit the use of lemon zest, or abandon it altogether, if there is no desire to "acquire" heartburn.