Citrus medica - Cedrat

The Citrus medica, better known as Cedrat is one of the first citrus trees to be used in Europe for its fragrant and aromatic peel. It is the ancestor of the lemon tree (Citrus limon). Of medium size, it forms a small, spiny and highly ornamental bush. Its large white flowers are intensely fragrant and its fruits, which come in various shapes, resemble large lemons with a thick, rough skin. Their yellowish-green, acidic and aromatic pulp is not very juicy and contains a lot of seeds. Hardy down to about -3°C (26.6 °F), the Cedrat can only be grown in the open ground in zones 9-11. It also thrives very well in pots and can be stored indoors during the winter everywhere else.

The Citrus medica is a small tree from the Rutaceae family, like all citrus trees. Its habit is irregular, rather spreading, wider than it is tall. It can reach 3m (9 ft 10 in) in height when grown in the open ground, but will remain smaller when grown in a pot. The branches bear long 4cm (1.6 in) spines and evergreen leaves in winter, similar to those of the lemon tree. They are entire, ovate to lanceolate, measuring up to 20cm (7.9 in) in length, fairly dark green, and aromatic when crushed. Flowering mainly occurs in spring, May-June, but may also occur sporadically during the summer. Gathered in small clusters, the floral buds, white-pink in colour, open up into large white star-shaped flowers. This flowering is followed by the formation of oval to oblong fruits with a small rounded apex. They measure 10 to 20cm (3.9 to 7.9 in) in length. Their thick green skin turns yellow when ripe. It is rich in remarkably fragrant essential oils. The yellow pulp is fragrant, acidic, not very juicy, rich in citric acid, minerals, and vitamins C, A, and B, but low in sugars. It leaves a fleeting orange aroma in the mouth.

Grown for its ornamental qualities as well as the aroma of its often candied peel, the Citron tree is somewhat overlooked in our culinary traditions when it comes to citrus fruits. It can be used to make juice or marmalade, but also, in a more classic way, to flavour desserts, by grating the zest. It is also a medicinal plant with therapeutic properties similar to those of the lemon. The zest of the citron, which is very rich in essential oil, is used in aromatherapy and perfumery. Easy to store, this citrus fruit was once carried on ships, providing a good source of vitamins to fight against scurvy. The wood of the lemon tree is used in cabinetmaking.

Like all Citrus trees, the citron tree contains pockets of essential oil in its leaves, flowers, and fruits, often visible to the naked eye. These pockets are used to extract highly prized essential oil through distillation (from flowers and leaves) or pressing (from the zest) that is described as a wonderful blend of citrus and floral scents.

Flowering and pollination: the Citrus medica is a self-fertile bush, which means that a single individual is sufficient for complete pollination and fruiting. However, if your citrus tree remains indoors permanently, you will need to occasionally let the pollinators do their work or, if you feel delicate enough, perform hand pollination.