Sour Note: In Ancient Rome, Lemons Were Only for the Rich
By Laura Geggel, Senior Writer | July 21, 2017 02:45pm ET
Lemons were the acai bowls of the ancient Romans — prized by the privileged because they were rare, and treasured for their healing powers. In fact, this coveted fruit, as well as the citron, were the only citrus fruits known in the ancient Mediterranean — it took centuries for other fruits, such as oranges, limes and pomelos to spread westward from their native Southeast Asia, a new study finds.
However, the citrus fruits that followed in later years weren't as exclusive as lemons and citrons, said the study's lead researcher, Dafna Langgut, an archaeobotanist at Tel Aviv University in Israel.
https://www.livescience.com/59896-ancient-citrus-trade-routes.html
