48 Lemon Trivia Questions to Help You Unlock the Secrets of the Citrus King

What makes lemons so much more than just a sour snack? From ancient trade routes to modern kitchens, lemons have a rich history full of surprising facts and flavors. Whether it’s their role in preventing scurvy or their place in world-famous festivals, these little yellow fruits pack a powerful punch. Ready to squeeze every bit of fun from your lemon knowledge? Dive into these 48 trivia questions and discover the zest behind one of the world’s most beloved citrus fruits!

Lemon Quiz and Trivia Questions (With Answers)

1. Question: Where are lemons believed to have originated?
Answer: North-western India.

2. Question: What two fruits are believed to have been crossed to create the lemon?
Answer: Sour orange and citron.

3. Question: Besides lemons and limes, name two other fruits that are members of the Rutaceae family.
Answer: Oranges and grapefruits (also acceptable: pomelos).

4. Question: Besides India, name three other major lemon-producing countries.
Answer: China, Mexico, Turkey (also acceptable: Brazil and Argentina).

5. Question: What rare vitamin C deficiency is lemon primarily used to treat?
Answer: Scurvy.

6. Question: What type of fruit are lemons technically classified as?
Answer: Berries.

7. Question: What are the main two basic types of lemons?
Answer: Acidic lemons and sweet lemons.

8. Question: To which plant family do lemons and limes belong?
Answer: The Rutaceae family (also known as the citrus genus).

9. Question: Who is credited with discovering the health benefits of lemon in the 1700s?
Answer: Scottish doctor James Lind.

10. Question: What disease did James Lind believe lemons could cure?
Answer: Scurvy.

11. Question: How long can a lemon tree live under favorable conditions?
Answer: Up to 150 years.

12. Question: How many years does it take for a lemon plant grown from seed to start fruiting?
Answer: Nearly 5 years.

13. Question: Why were lemons so highly valued during the California Gold Rush in 1849?
Answer: Because they helped prevent and cure scurvy in undernourished miners.

Lemon Trivia Questions  For Kids and Adults

Lemon Trivia Questions  For Kids and Adults

14. Question: What are the three main types of lemons identified by botanists?
Answer: Bearss, Eureka, and Lisbon.

15. Question: Where was the world’s heaviest lemon grown in 2003?
Answer: Kefar Zeitim, Israel.

16. Question: How much did the world’s heaviest lemon weigh?
Answer: 5.265 kg (11 lb 9.7 oz).

17. Question: Who introduced lemon seeds to the Americas in 1493?
Answer: Christopher Columbus.

18. Question: What percentage of a lemon’s juice is citric acid?
Answer: 5%.

19. Question: Name two vitamins or minerals found in lemons besides vitamin C.
Answer: Vitamin B6 and potassium (also acceptable: fiber or magnesium).

20. Question: What two antioxidants found in lemons may help reduce inflammation and promote heart health?
Answer: Flavonoids and limonoids.

21. Question: Which two U.S. states account for about 90% of the country’s lemon production?
Answer: Arizona and California.

22. Question: Approximately how many pounds of lemons can a single lemon tree produce in a year?
Answer: Up to 600 pounds.

23. Question: Roughly how many lemons can one tree produce in a year?
Answer: Almost 4,500 lemons.

24. Question: How many lemons would you need to generate enough electricity to power a flashlight bulb in a science experiment?
Answer: Around 500 lemons.

25. Question: What are the main two basic types of lemons?
Answer: Acidic lemons and sweet lemons.

26. Question: To which plant family do lemons and limes belong?
Answer: The Rutaceae family (also known as the citrus genus).

27. Question: What type of fruit are lemons technically classified as?
Answer: Berries.

28. Question: What are the two most common lemon varieties found in grocery stores?
Answer: Eureka and Lisbon.

29. Question: Name two specialty lemons that are considered hybrids.
Answer: Meyer lemon and Ponderosa lemon.

30. Question: Which lemon variety, grown on Italy’s Amalfi Coast, is twice the size of a regular lemon and is used to make Limoncello?
Answer: Amalfi lemons.

31. Question: What Italian region is known for cultivating Amalfi lemons?
Answer: The Amalfi Coast.

32. Question: During which historical event in 1849 did miners pay high prices for lemons due to their scarcity?
Answer: The California Gold Rush.

48 Lemon Trivia Questions  and Answers

33. Question: In which French town is an annual Lemon Festival held every February or March?
Answer: Menton.

34. Question: What citrus fruits are used to create floats and sculptures during the Lemon Festival in Menton, France?
Answer: Lemons and oranges.

35. Question: During the Renaissance, how did women use lemons for beauty?
Answer: To naturally redden their lips.

36. Question: What marine animal gets its name from its yellow skin, which helps it camouflage with sandy sea floors?
Answer: Lemon shark.

37. Question: What are the five countries listed as major lemon growers in the world?
Answer: Argentina, Chile, India, Mexico, and the United States.

38. Question: Name three other lemon varieties grown in California besides Eureka.
Answer: Lisbon, Verna, and Meyer lemons.

39. Question: How many tablespoons of juice can an average-sized lemon produce?
Answer: Up to 3 tablespoons.

40. Question: How many seeds are typically found in a standard organically grown lemon?
Answer: 6–8 seeds.

41. Question: Which lemon variety has a sweeter, more fragrant flavor and a smoother, brighter skin—Eureka or Meyer?
Answer: Meyer lemon.

42. Question: Name three lesser-known lemon varieties grown around the world.
Answer: Greek Citron lemons, Bush lemons, Volkamer lemons, and Baboon lemons.

43. Question: Which country produces the most lemons in the world?
Answer: India.

44. Question: What part of the lemon contains the essential lemon oil used in cooking and commercial products?
Answer: The zest (yellow portion of the rind).

45. Question: What should be avoided when zesting a lemon?
Answer: The white pith, which is bitter.

46. Question: What are three common culinary uses of lemon juice?
Answer: Lemonade, marinades, and marmalade.

47. Question: What natural cooking benefit does the acidity of lemon juice provide for meat and poultry?
Answer: It acts as a tenderizer.

48. Question: What event in the late 1800s caused severe damage to Florida’s citrus industry, destroying millions of trees and setting it back about 10 years?
Answer: The Great Freeze of 1894–1895.