Ok, yes, we know ­– Buddha’s hand looks pretty weird. Curious cooks are normally fond of interesting ingredients but this might take the cake. Buddha’s hand is a distinct fruit with a strong citrus aroma. Indeed, it is part of the citron family yet Buddha’s hand are mostly rind, lacking the juicy pulp found in oranges, lemons and limes. Traditionally, Buddha’s hand was used in China and Japan to perfume rooms, thanks to its strong citrus aroma. Buddha’s hand also holds religious significance, being a traditional temple offering.

In the kitchen, Buddha’s hand is popular for its powerful zest, flavouring liqueurs and vodkas, as well as in marmalades as a substitute for lemon rind. Buddha’s hand is a fruit that can be eaten raw and it contains very few calories, but kitchen hands can get creative and use it to make candied citron, flavoured sugar, lemon salt, salad dressing and shortbread cookies.