A Sour Matter – Where Did Lemons Come From in Gdansk?
Around 200 BC, plantations of these fruits were developed in China, and the lemons were so valuable that only the highest-ranking government officials could expect a share. Lemons arrived in Europe thanks to Alexander the Great, or rather, through the "botanical explorers" he employed. It was they who discovered the lemon and most likely sent its seeds to Greece. However, it wasn't until the 10th century that lemon plantations began to develop on our continent. After encountering them during the Crusades in the Middle East, the Crusaders brought and spread lemon cultivation in the Mediterranean region. Unfortunately, this practice did not succeed in the inhospitable, cold North. Efforts were made to outwit nature by building specially heated greenhouses for the plants, but despite these efforts, yields were very poor. As a result, lemons, which had to be imported, only reached Poland with some delay.
It wasn't until the 15th century that lemons appeared in old recipes. Moreover, the price of a lemon was astronomical, and only kings and the wealthiest nobility could afford to purchase them. This situation did not change for over 100 years! Only in the 17th and 18th centuries did citrus fruits appear on the tables of the bourgeoisie, though the economic boom did not significantly alter the social status associated with purchasing this sour fruit. Due to their high price, which remained for centuries, they were considered a symbol of luxury and wealth. A basket of citrus fruits was a tasteful gift, and lemon juice was considered an excellent and widely used medicinal remedy. Lemons arrived in Gdansk, of course, by sea. Their price in the port city was no different from prices in the interior of the country. Purchasing a single lemon cost about six florins – for comparison, a maid earned 32 florins a year! Despite this, lemons were eagerly used in Gdansk
cuisine as a flavorful addition to dishes.
The Gdańsk Cookbook contains a wealth of recipes that use this ingredient: the peel was added to cakes, cookies, and meat dishes, whole slices were used in sauces, roasts, and as plate decorations, while juice was used in preserves, cold desserts, and drinks. Phew... no expense was spared on this luxurious treat. Does this mean that the residents of the city on the Motława River were that wealthy? Or perhaps the recipes in this work are only for special occasions? We may never know for sure, but there's no harm in checking whether Gdansk's fascination with sour flavors was worth the price.
It wasn't until the 15th century that lemons appeared in old recipes. Moreover, the price of a lemon was astronomical, and only kings and the wealthiest nobility could afford to purchase them. This situation did not change for over 100 years! Only in the 17th and 18th centuries did citrus fruits appear on the tables of the bourgeoisie, though the economic boom did not significantly alter the social status associated with purchasing this sour fruit. Due to their high price, which remained for centuries, they were considered a symbol of luxury and wealth. A basket of citrus fruits was a tasteful gift, and lemon juice was considered an excellent and widely used medicinal remedy. Lemons arrived in Gdansk, of course, by sea. Their price in the port city was no different from prices in the interior of the country. Purchasing a single lemon cost about six florins – for comparison, a maid earned 32 florins a year! Despite this, lemons were eagerly used in Gdansk
cuisine as a flavorful addition to dishes.
The Gdańsk Cookbook contains a wealth of recipes that use this ingredient: the peel was added to cakes, cookies, and meat dishes, whole slices were used in sauces, roasts, and as plate decorations, while juice was used in preserves, cold desserts, and drinks. Phew... no expense was spared on this luxurious treat. Does this mean that the residents of the city on the Motława River were that wealthy? Or perhaps the recipes in this work are only for special occasions? We may never know for sure, but there's no harm in checking whether Gdansk's fascination with sour flavors was worth the price.