out of season

Tiger Lemons 500g from FINE & WILD UK featuring rare variegated yellow and green striped skin, ideal for cocktails and gourmet dishes.

Sicilian Tiger Lemons

Name: Sicilian Tiger Lemons
Brand: LE MARCHE
SKU: TIGLEM500
Price: 6.00 GBP
Availability: OutOfStock

£6.00

Net: 500g Grown in Sicily Floral & Pink-Fleshed

A naturally variegated Sicilian lemon with striped skin, pale pink flesh, and a softer, more floral acidity than standard varieties. Pith is mild enough to eat — the whole fruit is usable, skin and all.

A Sicilian variegated lemon with distinctive green-and-yellow striped skin and pale pink flesh — visually unlike any standard lemon and with a flavour profile to match. Tiger lemons carry the sharp acidity you expect from a lemon, but with a noticeably softer edge, a subtle sweetness, and floral, almost aromatic notes that sit somewhere between a classic lemon and a bergamot. The juice has a faint pink tinge, which makes it particularly useful where presentation matters — cocktails, desserts, and finishing plates.

The variety is a natural mutation rather than a modern hybrid, and has been cultivated in small quantities in Sicily for generations. The striped patterning on the skin is caused by a periclinal chimera — a genetic variation in the outer cell layers of the fruit that produces sectors of different pigmentation. It is the same biological mechanism responsible for variegation in ornamental plants, and it is stable enough to reproduce true through grafting.

The pith is notably less bitter than in standard lemon varieties, which means the whole fruit — skin, pith, and flesh — is usable. This makes tiger lemons particularly well suited to slicing into rounds for cooking or garnishing, where you want to use the entire cross-section without any unpleasant bitterness.

These are grown by the Russo family in coastal groves near Syracuse in southeastern Sicily, where volcanic soils and a long, dry growing season concentrate flavour and essential oils in the rind. The season runs from December through to April.

Producer: Russo family, Syracuse, Sicily.

Ingredients: Tiger lemons (Citrus limon).

The main advantage of tiger lemons over standard varieties is that the mild pith means you can use the whole fruit. Slice into thin rounds — the striped skin and pink interior make a striking cross-section — and use as a garnish, laid over fish before roasting, or dropped into drinks where a standard lemon slice would look ordinary.

The juice works anywhere you would use regular lemon juice, but the softer acidity and floral character make it particularly good in lighter applications — gin and tonic, spritzers, ceviche, and dressings where you want citrus without too much sharpness. Zest the striped skin over seafood, salads, or desserts for a more aromatic, less punchy lemon note.

For cooking, try roasting whole fish on a bed of thinly sliced tiger lemons with olive oil, garlic, and herbs — the slices caramelise underneath and the mild pith means you can eat them alongside the fish. They also work well in tarts and possets where their gentler acidity produces a slightly more nuanced result than a standard Eureka or Verna.

Store at room temperature for up to a week, or in the fridge for three to four weeks.

Order Cut-Off Times & Delivery Date Selection

Orders placed before 2 PM (Monday to Friday) are dispatched the same day, unless you select a future delivery date at checkout.

Our Delivery Service

We use reliable third-party express courier services and high-quality insulated packaging. While our couriers are generally excellent, occasional delays can happen. We pack everything to stay fresh, even if transit takes a little longer.

Time-Sensitive & Event Orders

Can we guarantee delivery on a specific day? Unfortunately not - we rely on third-party couriers and can't control their schedules. All items leave us in perfect condition with good use-by dates, but final timing depends on the courier.

If your order is for a specific event, let us know in the notes section at checkout. We can often dispatch a day earlier to give you the best chance of timely arrival.

DELIVERY Changes After Dispatch

Once dispatched, your package is with the courier and we're unable to redirect it or change delivery details.

Saturday Delivery

Saturday delivery is available, though please note our couriers don't operate phone support at weekends and our office is closed. For event-critical orders, a weekday delivery gives us more flexibility to help if any issues arise.

Full delivery details and shipping rates: here

Description

A Sicilian variegated lemon with distinctive green-and-yellow striped skin and pale pink flesh — visually unlike any standard lemon and with a flavour profile to match. Tiger lemons carry the sharp acidity you expect from a lemon, but with a noticeably softer edge, a subtle sweetness, and floral, almost aromatic notes that sit somewhere between a classic lemon and a bergamot. The juice has a faint pink tinge, which makes it particularly useful where presentation matters — cocktails, desserts, and finishing plates.