Is Lemon Bitter Or Sour? (EXPLAINED)

Question of the Day: Is lemon bitter or sour?

Quick Answer: Lemons themselves are sour, not bitter, for the most part. But, to be fair, some species may be more bitter than others (along with still being generally sour). That said, most bitterness associated with the flavor of lemons is in the taste of the lemon peel and the white pith, not the taste of the actual fruit.

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Do Lemons Taste Bitter?

When lemon or lemon juice hits the taste buds on your tongue, your brain recognizes the sourness of the flavor before any bitterness is detected. That said, when the white pith of the fruit lands on your taste buds you’ll notice a slight bitter taste. If your lemon has been cleaned well, and has no white on it, you may not taste bitterness at all.

Is Lemon Juice More Sweet or More Bitter?

Lemon juice is acidic, but it also contains a great deal of sugar (as well as a hint of bitterness) and tastes sweeter than it does bitter. In truth, lemon juice is a combination of sour and sweet flavors, with a tad bit of bitterness to it (the level of bitterness).

What Causes The Bitterness in Lemons?

The bitterness in lemons is mainly caused by the chemical compounds limonin and naringin. Citrus fruits, however, all have slightly bitter undertones to their flavors.

How do You Make Lemon Juice Less Bitter?

Believe it or not, the best way to make lemon juice less bitter is by adding a bit of sugar, and a bit of salt. Yep, salt! The sugar makes the juice sweeter while the salt actually neutralizes the bitterness completely.

Joey Bruno

Hey, I’m Joey. I’ve been cooking since I was a little kid and love everything about it. You can find my writing about food, kitchen appliances (such as blenders) and much more. Thanks for stopping by!