All About Buddha's Hand

Also known as the finger citron, Buddha’s hand is named for its unique shape that resembles the way fingers and hands look in a prayer position. A member of the citrus family, buddha’s hand has a one-of-a-kind flavor and a famously intoxicating fragrance to match. One sniff gives you a sense of what buddha’s hand tastes like: a heady blend of citrus flower blossoms, bittersweet grapefruit, lemony citron and sweet yuzu.

Buddha’s hand is covered in a bright yellow citrus peel. This fragrant outer zest contains essential oils with the most potent flavor. Inside, the white pith is firm and seedless with a crunchy texture and a mildly sweet, citrusy flavor.

They may not be juicy, but that doesn’t stop buddha’s hand citron from being incredibly delicious and useful in the kitchen. Zest or shave it into salads, cook it into candies and jams, and infuse almost any beverage with its aromatic, lemony flavor. Some of the most common preparations of buddha’s hand are raw uses like zesting, concentrated into a sweet marmalade-like tea, and cooked with sugar for sour candies. Use it in just about any recipe that calls for citrus zest for a new take on classic favorites.

Buddha’s hand is believed to be native to India and China, where it continues to be cultivated today. Luckily, today buddha’s hand also grows in temperate areas of the United States as well! These beautiful citrons grow on a thorny bush that reaches about six feet high at maturity. Like many citrus, buddha’s hand citron fruits come into season in the fall and last through the winter, typically from late October through January. The peak season for buddha’s hand happens around mid-November.

Buddha’s hand is believed to be native to India and China, where it continues to be cultivated today. Luckily, today buddha’s hand also grows in temperate areas of the United States as well! These beautiful citrons grow on a thorny bush that reaches about six feet high at maturity.

Like many citrus fruits, buddha’s hand citron fruits come into season in the fall and last through the winter, typically from late October through January. The peak season for buddha’s hand happens around mid-November.

Both the buddha’s hand and lemon are considered citrus fruits, and boast bright, sweetly acidic flavor. Each fruit has a waxy yellow skin that, like other citrus fruits, contains flavorful essential oils. In fact, a buddha's hand can even look like a squiggly lemon!

Despite their similarities, it’s where they differ that’s the most interesting. Buddha’s hand flavor is unmistakably citrusy, with a complex flavor that’s bitter, sweet, floral and bright. This fruit has a bitterness similar to a grapefruit and less sourness than a lemon, with a light sweetness that balances out buddha’s hand’s exceptionally unique flavor. We know and love lemons for their juicy flesh that’s divided into individual, pulpy sections. Perhaps most notably, Buddha’s hand has no juicy fruit inside. Unlike other citrus fruits, its inner pith is crunchy, sweet, citrusy - and completely edible!

Whether a buddha's hand is certified organic or not will depend on the farm where it was grown. At FruitStand, we only partner with the best specialty farms for exceptional quality of produce. When each harvest is available, we'll tell you whether the fruit is considered organic or conventional.

Buddha’s hand might be the most photo-worthy fruit there is. Share your photos of how you use buddha’s hand with us on Instagram @Fruitstandcom! Share your creative buddha’s hand recipes in the FruitStand Facebook community, too!