Ever heard of a Fingered Citron? How about a Buddha’s Hand? ‘Tis the beginning of the season for this weird-looking citrus, and Frieda’s Specialty Produce is now shipping them to grocery stores near you.
This peculiar fruit has green or rich yellow tapering fingers or segments attached to a base – the appearance is not unlike a curled, arthritic hand, only there are usually many more than 5 fingers!
But what on earth do you do with a Buddha’s Hand? Do you eat it? Well, yes, and no. Its thick, lemony rind and pith (the white part) is often candied into a delicious citrus delicacy, infused with spirits or made into liqueurs. However, the small amount of inside flesh is quite sour and rarely used in food. The Buddha’s Hand and other members of the Citron family are also prized for their aromatic citrus oils and used in perfumes and sometimes kept in homes as a natural air deodorizer.
A member of the elusive citron family, Buddha’s Hands, or Hand of Buddha, have been cultivated in China and Japan for centuries and made their way to U.S. soils more recently. Frieda’s Buddha’s Hands are picked from citrus orchards in the San Joaquin Valley of Southern California, and there has been a recent spike in popularity of this once-rare specialty. Perhaps it’s because it’s just so darn weird!
Did you know that Buddha’s Hand are often used as religious offerings in Buddhist temples, and the fruit with “closed” fingers are preferred because they symbolize the act of prayer.
Impress your friends and guests with one of the weirdest fruits around. Look for Frieda’s Buddha’s Hand in your local produce department, or request one from your produce manager today!
This peculiar fruit has green or rich yellow tapering fingers or segments attached to a base – the appearance is not unlike a curled, arthritic hand, only there are usually many more than 5 fingers!
But what on earth do you do with a Buddha’s Hand? Do you eat it? Well, yes, and no. Its thick, lemony rind and pith (the white part) is often candied into a delicious citrus delicacy, infused with spirits or made into liqueurs. However, the small amount of inside flesh is quite sour and rarely used in food. The Buddha’s Hand and other members of the Citron family are also prized for their aromatic citrus oils and used in perfumes and sometimes kept in homes as a natural air deodorizer.
A member of the elusive citron family, Buddha’s Hands, or Hand of Buddha, have been cultivated in China and Japan for centuries and made their way to U.S. soils more recently. Frieda’s Buddha’s Hands are picked from citrus orchards in the San Joaquin Valley of Southern California, and there has been a recent spike in popularity of this once-rare specialty. Perhaps it’s because it’s just so darn weird!
Did you know that Buddha’s Hand are often used as religious offerings in Buddhist temples, and the fruit with “closed” fingers are preferred because they symbolize the act of prayer.
Impress your friends and guests with one of the weirdest fruits around. Look for Frieda’s Buddha’s Hand in your local produce department, or request one from your produce manager today!
Buddha's Hand
3 comments:
I just bought a Buddha's hand and have no idea what to do with it yet, but it looks cool!
Where did you buy it?
I bought mine (that time) at Fresh Market in Tampa, FL but since then have seen at Whole Foods in Washington, DC.
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