Citron is one of the few original citrus species from which lemons, limes and many other citrus fruits descend. Its large, bumpy, yellow fruit is mostly thick, fragrant rind with little juice. In North India bara nimbu is pickled, and Ayurveda knows it as matulunga. Buddha’s hand, with its finger-like segments, is a citron variety, and the etrog used at the Jewish festival of Sukkot is another.
- Botanical name
- Citrus medica L.
- Family
- Rutaceae
- Tamil
- Turunj
- Hindi
- Bara nimbu
- Sanskrit
- Mātuluṅga
- Parts used
- Rind, Fruit, Pith
- Habit
- Thick-rinded citron, one of the ancestral citrus species
- Last updated
- 2026-10-27
How to recognise Turunj
It is a shrub or small tree with stiff, spiny branches.
The leaves are large, oval and toothed, with a lemon scent and a stalk without wings.
The flowers are white, often tinged purple on the outside, and new shoots are purplish.
The fruit is large, oval and bumpy, ten to twenty-five centimetres long, with a very thick white pith and little sour pulp.
Lemon is smaller, with thin rind and plenty of juice.
Traditional use of Turunj
Kitchen
In North India bara nimbu is cut and pickled with salt, chilli and spices, and the peel is candied.
North Indian food practice
Ayurveda
Matulunga is described in Ayurvedic texts as a digestive fruit.
Ayurvedic texts
Ritual
The etrog citron is one of four plants held at the Jewish festival of Sukkot.
Jewish ritual practice
Modern notes on Turunj
Genetic studies show citron is a parent of lemon, lime and other sour citrus.
Candied citron peel, called succade, is used in fruitcakes and Italian sweets.
The rind is rich in fragrant oils and pectin.
Turunj safety
The fruit is a safe food in normal amounts. Peel oil on skin followed by strong sun can cause irritation in sensitive people.
Ecology and sourcing
It probably originated in the hills of north-east India and northern Myanmar.
It is frost-sensitive and grows best in warm, dry climates.
It was the first citrus to reach the Mediterranean, by about the fourth century BCE.
Related plants
Also in Rutaceae
Questions about Turunj
Is citron a lemon?
No. It is one of the lemon’s parents.
What is Buddha’s hand?
A citron variety with finger-like segments.
Is there juice in a citron?
Very little; it is mostly rind.
How is Turunj used in India?
Pickled as bara nimbu and candied.
Where did citron come from?
Probably north-east India and Myanmar.
Sources
- Citrus medica L. — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q150064 (Citrus medica)
Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.