Lemon

Lemon was a citrus fruit-bearing tree often found in the southern lands. The fruit was oblong, fragrant, and sour.

"Lemon. Yellow as the summer sun; fresh as Neverwinter air; and sour as a high elf's scowl."

Availability
Places in the Realms where lemons were known to be cultivated included:
 * The land of Luiren cultivated great amounts of lemons and similar citrus fruits that were greatly in demand in northern lands.
 * In the Imnescar region of Amn, lemons grew in abundance.
 * In the Shao Mountains of Kara-Tur, lemons were cultivated around the Sumitra tower despite the harshness of its local climate. The sweet aroma of lemon and other fruits drifted throughout the tower's corridors.

Usage

 * Throughout the North, Sword Coast, and Western Heartlands it was common to find wax-sealed jars of pickled whole lemons inside of cupboards. These would be chopped and used in cooking, rather than being eaten whole.
 * Lemon fruit was used to make a sweet and refreshing non-alcoholic drink called lemonade, often served in taverns and inns of Tilverton circa 1357 DR.
 * Aurora's Emporium sold sweet pastries such as lemon tarts, baked in Waterdeep.
 * The Hin of Luiren used the peels of lemons to create salbread, which was especially favored by travelers and sailors.
 * In the lands of the Utter East it was common to add lemon juice to wash water, especially on marine vessels, to improve often lacking hygiene.
 * Hot toddy was a soothing alcoholic drink often made with lemon, especially popular among town criers of Daggerford.
 * Lemon juice was a common accompaniment in serving sea urchins raw. That custom was fairly common on the Southern Sword Coast.
 * Mosstone's posh inn, the Stag Triumphant, served honey and lemon chicken stew in thick greenshoots broth for highsunfeast.

Significance
Lemon blossoms were the favorite scent of Bishamon the Wide Hearing, a guardian spirit worshiped in Wa. Incense stands burning these were placed around his statue in the Great Temple of Bishamon in Kurahito.

Trivia

 * Yulchass powder, a drug made out of a type of Chultan berry had a strong lemon taste.
 * Saurials' unique language that included seemingly inaudible sounds and scents included the smell of lemon fruit that indicated pleasure and joy.

Appearances

 * Novels
 * Azure Bonds &bull; The Mercenaries &bull; Ashes of the Tyrant
 * Darkwalker on Moonshae
 * Video Games
 * Baldur's Gate III
 * Neverwinter Nights: Darkness over Daggerford
 * Neverwinter Nights: Darkness over Daggerford
 * Neverwinter Nights: Darkness over Daggerford