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Lemon zest

Lemon zest is the finely grated colored outer layer of lemon peel, used as an aromatic seasoning in sweet and savory dishes.

Lemon zest — illustrative ingredient image

About Lemon zest

Lemon zest is the finely grated, scraped, or peeled coloured outer layer of lemon peel, with little or none of the white pith. It is used as an aromatic seasoning in cakes, creams, biscuits, sauces, marinades, salads, grains, and other sweet or savoury preparations.

Zest is thin and highly aromatic, with a bright citrus fragrance and a concentrated, slightly bitter flavour. Because it contains little pith, it generally differs from thicker peel in bitterness and chewiness, although the exact sensory result depends on the amount of pith retained.

It is typically yellow to greenish-yellow, depending on the fruit, and is sold or prepared fresh, dried, or preserved. Grating produces fine particles, while peeling creates shavings or narrow strips; drying reduces moisture and preservation changes its texture and intensity.

Ingredient type
seasoning

Forms & related ingredients

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Where lemon zest appears

11 linked foods

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Desserts

Breads

Ingredient connections awaiting review · Coverage is still growing, including packaged snacks.

Name examples awaiting language review. Confirm the specific food or product.

Local names for lemon zest

Names and romanised forms to recognise on menus and labels.

English

Lemon zest

Available names only. Languages may be spoken in other countries; a name alone does not identify every ingredient in a dish.

Lemon zest nutrition & diet

Lemon zest nutritional value

Reference: Lemon zest

Per 100 g of 100 g edible portion in the named official reference form.

Calories
64kcal
Protein
1.5g
Carbs
11.9g
Fat
0.3g

Official national food-composition reference. The displayed food form is part of the estimate; cultivar, recipe, brand, processing and preparation can change values.

Portions & preparation

Use only the colored outer layer, avoiding most white pith, and identify fresh, dried, frozen, or packaged zest. A grated garnish is usually recorded separately from the food it flavors. Sugar, salt, oil, and spice blends can turn zest into a compound seasoning.

Compare the right form: Match references to fresh or processed lemon zest made from the colored outer peel, specifying whether it is plain, dried, sweetened, salted, or blended.

Diet considerations

Lemon zest is plant-derived. Compatibility changes when it is candied, sweetened, salted, oil-based, or incorporated into a blend. Plain zest differs from baked goods, dairy desserts, sauces, and cereal-based coatings; the surrounding recipe, animal additions, and portion determine the broader dietary pattern.

AI-authored reading notes · Awaiting editorial review. Measured values, where available, have a separate source above.

Dietary compatibility

  • Vegan
    Not established
  • Vegetarian
    Not established
  • Pescatarian
    Not established
  • Keto
    Not established
  • Paleo
    Not established
  • Low-carb
    Not established
  • Halal
    Not established
  • Kosher
    Not established
What these diet assessments mean
Vegan · Not established
The available profile does not establish the full composition or processing for this dietary pattern.
Vegetarian · Not established
The available profile does not establish the full composition or processing for this dietary pattern.
Pescatarian · Not established
The available profile does not establish the full composition or processing for this dietary pattern.
Keto · Not established
A defined serving and sourced carbohydrate data are needed before assessing this dietary pattern.
Paleo · Not established
The ingredient form and processing have not been assessed against this dietary pattern.
Low-carb · Not established
A defined serving and sourced carbohydrate data are needed before assessing this dietary pattern.
Halal · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish halal status.
Kosher · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish kosher status.

For the plain ingredient · Awaiting review. Diet compatibility is not allergy suitability or halal/kosher certification. Keto and low-carb depend on the portion.

Reviewed ingredient entryIngredient reference · Preparations vary

AI-generated illustration for visual context. It does not identify a particular product or establish allergen content.

Sources & review

Nutrition reference: Swedish Food Agency Food Database, 2026-07-01 — 602 ↗. Values are scaled from 100 g of the recorded edible form. Individual portions have no assumed fixed weight.

Expanded overview, name examples and nutrition notes are database drafts awaiting editorial review. Numeric nutrition values, where shown, have their own source and food-form reference.

The ingredient description and dish connections come from the draft catalogue and may change after review.

Last recorded verification: .