Citron Fruit: Celebrating Winter's Unique Flavour In Al-Jouf Region

As winter sets in, the people of Al-Jouf welcome the citron fruit into their homes and social gatherings. This region is famous for its abundant production of this unique fruit. The citron tree, part of the citrus family, thrives here due to the favourable climate and fertile land. It is one of the most cultivated trees after olives and palms.

Al-Jouf, often called the Kingdom’s food basket, sees citron trees flourishing on farms and in home gardens. The fruit is a staple in many traditional dishes, juices, and beverages. During cold months, residents prepare "Mareesat Al-Tronj." This dish involves peeling and deseeding citron, cutting it into cubes, and seasoning it with chili, turmeric, mint, salt, dates, or sugar based on personal preference.

Some prefer eating fresh citron slices or making jam from its pulp. Others enjoy it as pickles or in various flavored juices like turmeric, ginger, and mint. Citron also features prominently in traditional dishes across several regions of the Kingdom. Additionally, it plays a role in food-processing industries such as jam production.

The fruit comes in shades of yellow and green, sometimes orange. It has a sweet taste with low acidity and resembles lemons but is larger. The fruiting season starts in winter from December to March.

With inputs from SPA