Professional taster Mandy Naglich discusses the fascinating backstory of Meyer lemons, their unique taste compared to clementines and lemons, the history of Meyer lemons named after plant explorer Frank Meyer, and the efforts to control their impact on the citrus industry. The episode also explores tasting techniques and flavor exploration with Naglich.
Meyer lemons have a tragic backstory and unique flavors appealing to both lemon and mandarin enthusiasts.
Mandy Naglich highlights the importance of smelling fruits before tasting and discusses the Meyer lemon's history and impact on citrus cultivation.
Deep dives
Celebrating Trees and Wondrous Plants
The podcast episode explores a celebration of trees and other wondrous plants in honor of Earth Day and Arbor Day. It delves into various stories related to trees, including a disgruntled plant explorer and a unique phenomenon of people emailing trees. Additionally, it touches on the dark side of trees, discussing killer trees with writer Mary Roach.
Professional Tasting of Citrus
The episode features Mandy Naglich, a professional taster and author of 'How to Taste,' engaging in a citrus tasting experience. Mandy emphasizes the importance of smelling fruits before tasting them and discusses the characteristics of lemons and clementines. The conversation leads to a discussion about the Meyer lemon, a fruit that combines elements of both lemons and mandarins.
The Meyer Lemon Legacy
The podcast delves into the fascinating history of the Meyer lemon, named after plant explorer Frank Meyer. It explores Meyer's adventurous exploration for new fruits, including the discovery of the Meyer lemon in China. The episode highlights the Meyer lemon's intricate flavors and its impact on citrus cultivation, including the challenges posed by the spread of a devastating citrus disease carried by Meyer lemon trees.
Meyer lemons are so special that restaurants go out of their way to call them out on menus. Martha Stewart loves to bake with them. And yet, Meyer lemons also have a fascinating and kinda tragic backstory. Tune in for a very fun episode about this very particular fruit. Our guest in this episode is Mandy Naglich, professional taster and author of “How To Taste.”