Zest (ingredient)

Zesting an orange

Zest is a food ingredient that is prepared by scraping or cutting from the rind of unwaxed citrus fruits such as lemon, orange, citron, and lime. Zest is used to add flavor to foods.

In terms of fruit anatomy, the zest is obtained from the flavedo (exocarp) which is also called zest.[1] The flavedo and white pith (albedo) of a citrus fruit together makes up its peel.[2] The amounts of both flavedo and pith are variable among citrus fruits, and may be adjusted by the manner in which they are prepared. Citrus peel may be used fresh, dried, candied, or pickled in salt.

Cross-section of an orange. The flavedo is zested; the bitter white albedo or pith is generally not used.
  1. ^ Bender, David (2009). Oxford Dictionary of Food and Nutrition (third ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 215. ISBN 978-0-19-923487-5.
  2. ^ "Orange & Orange Juice". CitrusBR. Brazilian Association of Citrus Exporters. Archived from the original on 2020-01-21. Retrieved 2021-02-18.