Hooray for Lemons! Trivia Quiz

Answer: India, Burma and China

From these countries, they spread outwards to the rest of the world approximately in the first century AD. This occurred with the rise of the Roman Empire as it also began to spread outwards to the rest of the known world. When lemons were first introduced to the rest of the world however, they weren't widely grown and it wouldn't be until the seventh century, with their arrival in the Middle East, that they began to gain in popularity.

Answer: Blood pressure

Citric acid was known to be present in lemon juice as long ago as the 13th century. It was first extracted from lemon juice by a Swedish chemist in 1874. One hundred years later chemists were able to manufacture it from other products, such as sugar. By 2007 it was being used in drinks, food products, detergents, in some cosmetics, and for biological and industrial purposes.

Answer: Christopher Columbus

Fruit was particularly easy to introduce to any locations where it hadn't grown before - it was simply a case of carrying the seeds from any fruit and replanting them in the new, suitable environment. Spanish conquerors then further added to the spread of the new fruit in the Americas when they carried the fruit's seeds with them on their expeditions.

Answer: Australia

The Australian wild lemon is a very hardy little fruit and the tree from which it grows can reach as high as four metres. Modified of course with various enhancers, its juice is particularly tangy. Australia wasn't settled by Europeans until 1788, which is a relatively late date in the history of the world.

Answer: A cross between a lemon and an orange

Meyers can also be crossed with mandarins and both combinations of this newly cultivated fruit have a beautiful refreshing perfume and a lovely taste. Their skin however is much thinner, so one has to be careful if shipping them to markets elsewhere to avoid damage occurring to the fruit.

Answer: No

Lemons are much easier to squeeze if kept at room temperature. However, not for more than a few days, because the fruit can develop mould if left too long out of the fridge. Oh, and be careful squeezing a particularly juicy lemon kept at room temperature.

Its juice is a killer if it squirts up into your eyes! If you're not too keen on leaving your lemons at room temperature for any length of time, another tip is to remove them from the fridge when ready for use, and warm them up slightly in the microwave. God bless modern technology.

Answer: Bananas

This is because the lemon juice acts as a preservative. Such an excellent little fruit, its juices are perfect for all three of the above fruits (apples, avocados and bananas) to stop them turning a most unappetising colour after being sliced.

Answer: To keep their fingers moistened when counting notes

Of course one can always use water as well, but how much more appealing would the aroma be by using lemon juice instead? Easy to prepare as well, all one needs to do is cut a lemon in half and keep it close by on the counter. Given its antiseptic qualities, the lemon juice could also be a real aid in helping keep banking tellers and cashiers safe from all sorts of germs which are passed around on bank notes as well.

Answer: Furniture polish

I once knew a delightful elderly lady who had a very thick historical book inherited from her grandmother, one that was crammed full with all the things lemon juice could be used for around the home and in various recipes. Though I may be allowed to borrow it for a while, she always tittered in a ladylike fashion and took the book back home with her. Lemon juice can be used around the home, for example, to dissolve all sorts of dirty marks and grime; mixed with baking soda to help keep cooking utensils and other containers sparkling like new; as a room freshener; to lighten the colour of hair; to help fade freckles, to whiten the skin on work-hardened hands; to soften rough elbows; as an insecticide - and an astonishing number of other uses.

Answer: To produce electricity

Isn't that just astonishing! Although other fruits and vegetables can be used as well, lemons are preferred because of the acid they contain. Two metal products such as a nail and a copper coin can be placed in a lemon, and with electrodes attached to the lemon (or several similarly set up lemons to produce more electricity), this can produce enough power to power a digital clock or an LED to produce light.