The Land Where Lemons Grow

I could almost immediately smell the gorgeous scent of citrus wafting from the pages of this beautiful book through the magic of Helena Atlee’s precisely detailed writing.

Who would have thought that the story of Italy’s varied and numerous citrus plantations would take me on a journey all across the country, from Sicily’s west coast to the fragrant lemon gardens of Lake Garda, and in time from when the Arabs introduced bitter oranges up to the workings of the citrus industry today.

I love this book because it simply tells the fragrant story of how fruit, in various manifestations, has… show more.

I loved this book because I really learned something new - in this case, the origins of the many different citrus fruits (who knew there were so many?) and how they crossed the world and ended up being cultivated in Italy.

I loved the way the author really took us to the citrus groves and those who manage them, as well as sharing some fascinating history along the way (such as how the Mafia originally formed to protect Sicilian lemon farmers). But mostly, I loved this book because the writing is just as mouthwatering as the subject matter it relates… show more.

This book combines the best in travel writing with history, art, and food. Attlee takes the readers through Italy, from Lake Garda’s lemon houses and the gardens of Tuscan villas to the scented bergamot groves in Calabria to a marmalade kitchen in Sicily. Along the way, we learn about the “garden poem,” a genre of poetry practiced in the 10th and 11th centuries by Islamic poets living in Sicily. The book also includes recipes for a chocolate tart from Capri, a lamb stew from a 13th-century Arabic cookbook, candied peels, and drinks using the abundant variety… show more.

I fell in love with this book after just a few pages. It’s a beautifully descriptive and colourful account of the significance of citrus fruit in Italy, from the days of the first introduction of the citron to Calabria in the 1st Century to today’s cultivation of blood oranges on the plains beneath Mount Etna.   

Written with great charm and humour, the author weaves this part-travelogue effortlessly in and out of history and horticulture with stories and recipes as we learn fascinating facts about the citron (still essential, for example, for the celebration of the Sukkoth festival by Lubavitcher Jews),… show more.

When it’s cold and dreary outside and you long for sunnier climes, this book is just the tonic. Helena delves into the story of Italian history through the country’s citrus fruits, combining history, recipes, horticulture, and art. The Land Where Lemons Grow left me with the jasminy smell of orange blossom fixed to my nostrils long after I put the book down. 

This is the book that inspired me to write about food culture and history in the south of France. Helena Attlee takes the reader on a unique journey through the history of Italy and its citrus fruit. Thoroughly researched and lightly written, the narrative blends historical and scholarly material with contemporary anecdotes such as the Mafia’s role in Sicilian lemon farming. Among other stories, we discover the importance of sour oranges in Renaissance cooking, and we learn how a storm led to the creation of Dundee’s marmalade industry. And if the reader has any lingering doubts about the importance of… show more.