Lemon
Here are the fruits that resemble Lemon (pictured above) either due to their shape, color, texture, or sour-citrus nature:
Meyer Lemon
One of the oldest citrus fruits, citron has a large, bumpy yellow rind and often resembles a giant, rugged lemon. It may be oblong or oval and sometimes has a thick peel with little juice inside—used mostly for its zest and aroma.
Yuzu
Popular in Japanese and Korean cuisine, yuzu looks like a rough-skinned, squat lemon with uneven bumps and a fragrant citrus aroma. It’s highly acidic like lemon, but with floral, mandarin-like undertones.
Ponderosa Lemon
This lemon-citron hybrid is massive, often as large as a grapefruit, with thick, bumpy yellow skin. At first glance, it looks like a giant, old-fashioned lemon—puckered, heavy, and bright.
Lime
While typically smaller and green, some ripe limes turn yellow, making them visually indistinguishable from lemons. Persian limes and key limes, when overripe, could be mistaken for small lemons in color and shape.
Pomelo
Pomelos are huge, round to pear-shaped citrus fruits with thick yellow skin. While much larger than a lemon, the pale color and citrus scent might cause confusion, especially when cut open.
Blood Lemon
A rare lemon variety with reddish flesh or skin, blood lemons often resemble typical lemons on the outside, though some show a rosy blush. Inside, they surprise with vibrant pink or red citrus segments.
Calamansi
A tiny citrus fruit with smooth green skin that turns yellow-orange when ripe. Though usually lime-sized, its color and sour juice are similar to lemon, often confusing in appearance when fully ripe.
Finger Lime
Shaped like a small, narrow cucumber, finger limes come in green, yellow, or pink. When cut open, they release tiny citrus pearls (called citrus caviar) with a bright, lemon-like taste. The skin color and sourness can mimic lemon in unexpected ways.
Kaffir Lime
This knobby, wrinkled green fruit can turn yellow when ripe, resembling a distorted lemon. It’s used more for its aromatic leaves, but the fruit itself is highly acidic and very lemon-like in flavor.
Sudachi
A small, round Japanese citrus fruit that’s green when used (even when ripe). It looks like a lime but is more aromatic and has a lemon-lime flavor. If left to ripen, it turns yellow and can easily resemble a mini lemon.
Buddha’s Hand
This fruit takes citron to the extreme—imagine a lemon pulled into finger-like sections. Despite its bright yellow color and citrus aroma, its tentacle-like shape sets it apart visually, though its zest is prized like lemon peel.
Blood Orange
At first glance, a blood orange looks like a typical orange or lemon, with smooth yellow to orange skin. However, the inside reveals deep red to crimson flesh. Some varieties even show a reddish blush on the peel, which can make them look like unusual lemons—especially when unripe or in certain lighting.
Mandarin
Mandarins are typically small and orange, but certain varieties have pale yellow skin and a smooth, lemon-like peel. Because of their size, round shape, and sometimes yellow color, they can be mistaken for lemons, especially before tasting their sweet, low-acid flesh.
Desert Lime
Native to Australia, desert limes are small, round, and green to yellow when ripe. Their pale yellow skin, tart citrus flavor, and compact size give them a miniature lemon-like appearance, especially when fully ripe.
Kumquat
Kumquats are tiny, oval-shaped citrus fruits with smooth, bright orange to yellow skin. Some varieties are lemon-colored and look like mini lemons in shape and gloss. The peel is sweet, but the inside is sharply sour, mimicking lemon’s flavor reversal.
Osage Orange
Though not a citrus fruit, the bumpy yellow-green exterior and round shape of the osage orange can resemble a giant, lumpy lemon from a distance. However, it’s not edible like citrus and is mostly ornamental or used as a natural insect repellent.
Ugli Fruit
This citrus hybrid has a rough, yellow-green peel that often appears wrinkled and dimpled—similar to a misshapen or overripe lemon. It’s a cross between grapefruit, orange, and tangerine, and while usually larger than a lemon, its outer look can be deceiving.