Who doesn't know: Meyer lemons enjoy a reputations in epic dimensions; hence I was more than just excited, to hunt these babies down.
I also found a net of sweet limes on the same spot - obviously I also had to buy those.
Today I tasted. The sweet limes first. And? They are horrible. They have a faint lime taste - with hints of mandarin - however with the lack of acidity. What makes citrus fruit stand out? Got it?
I was more optimistic about the Meyer lemons. I have read so much praise about them - they cannot be bad?!
And well - they aren't.
They are quite sweet, with less acidity than normal lemons. The aromas are obviously lemony, but with a strong tangerine character and some blood orange bitterness.
I tried it in a gin sour - and was slightly underwhelmed. The drink was smooth and balanced; however I prefer gin drinks to be edgy; wake ups.
Next try - a Meyer lemon soda. This could become quite good, as this lemon is contributing more aromas to the mix, and as the acidity is anyway regulated through citric acid.
I grated the peel of 4 Meyer lemons directly into caster sugar - added citric acid - dry vacuum-infused it one time - added little water and vacuum-infused it another time. Then I stirred until the sugar and citric acid were dissolved.
Final steps were, to squeeze the juice and add to the syrup and add enough soda to make it fizz [you could also use normal water and carbonate it].
It is a lovely soda. With the same character of a cloudy lemon soda - however with a much longer lasting aroma of…. Meyer lemons.
Then I just added a little gin. Just to check if it would work. And it works. It is even better than the soda alone - eureka!
Gin & Meyer Lemonade it is then.
Is it worth to get through the pain, to get Meyer lemons here in the Middle East? Definitely not.
Is it worth to do it, if you have Meyer lemons on hand? Duh - yes of course!
And the sweet limes? Totally useless!
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