Tea Blog

Lemon and tea. They go together like, well, like birthday cake and mustard—at least in my opinion. For many people, however, lemon is an essential part of the tea-drinking experience. But how did this pairing come about?

Finding a definitive answer isn’t easy, but a few historical connections offer some clues.

One notable example comes from the term “limey,” historically used to describe British sailors. The nickname originated from the practice of giving sailors citrus fruits—limes and often lemons—to prevent scurvy.

These citrus juices were frequently mixed into grog (watered-down rum), and it’s not a huge leap to imagine that lemon may have eventually found its way into tea as well, especially given Britain’s long-standing affection for both beverages.

In 1794, British sailor William Hutchinson suggested that tea consumption helped ward off scurvy. His observations are discussed in

this historical account of Hutchinson’s writings on tea and health
,
though he did not specifically mention citrus.

Interestingly, some varieties of tea do contain small amounts of vitamin C, as described in

this article on vitamin C content in tea and its potential nutritional value
,
though not typically enough to serve as a reliable defense against scurvy.

Another possible explanation comes from the history of punch, a beverage introduced to British sailors in India. Early versions of punch often included water, sugar, citrus (such as lemon), alcohol, and sometimes tea.

Over time, the shared use of these ingredients may have helped cement the connection between tea and lemon.

This idea is explored further in the book Modern Tea: A Fresh Look at an Ancient Beverage by Lisa Boalt Richardson, which traces the evolution of tea blends and preparation styles across cultures.

All of which eventually leads to what some might consider the most famous combination of tea and lemon:

this discussion of the Arnold Palmer, the classic mix of iced tea and lemonade
.

See more of William I. Lengeman’s articles at

this author archive featuring his collection of tea-related writing
.

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