It is well known that lemons, like all citrus fruits, are highly appreciated and widely cultivated worldwide. However, their origins remained unknown until very recent times. The oldest source of information about the origin of citrus fruits comes from mythology.

Mythology associates citrus fruits with golden apples: the fruits of the Garden of the Hesperides. Legend has it that Hercules had to accomplish twelve titanic labors as a penance imposed by Eurystheus. Among these tasks, the Greek mythological hero had to steal the golden apples to gain immortality from the Garden of the Hesperides.

But who were the Hesperides? According to the myth, they were daughters of Night and Atlas, united by their beauty and talent for singing. They were the guardians of a garden—a gift that Gaia, the goddess of the Earth, gave to Zeus and Hera for their wedding. This was a special garden, whose evergreen trees with branches laden with the so-called “golden apples,” or lemons, became symbols of love and fertility.

You might now be wondering, where is the Garden of the Hesperides located? For centuries, it was believed to be found in various places: Syria, the coasts of Libya, or the area west of Mount Atlas. We like to think that the fruits of the Hesperides are born in our fertile Piana del Sele, an ancient land of beauty and myth. This is why we dedicated one of our product lines, made from the organic fruits of our lemon grove, to the Hesperides.

The Hesperides: Guardians of Nature and Health

As you know, citrus fruits benefit human health due to the wide range of compounds they contain. It is well known that their fruits are an excellent source of ascorbic acid (vitamin C), a powerful antioxidant. They are also richer in dietary fiber than other fruits and vegetables, with a particularly high ratio of soluble to insoluble fiber. The soluble fiber in citrus fruits helps prevent diabetes and lowers cholesterol levels. In addition to macronutrients, citrus fruits are rich in micronutrients like potassium, folic acid, vitamin B6, riboflavin and calcium, essential for human health.

In recent decades, an increasing number of epidemiological and clinical studies have shown that citrus fruit consumption is associated with reduced risks of lifestyle-related diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, type 2 diabetes and so on. Citrus fruits accumulate phytochemicals like flavonoids, carotenoids and limonoids, mainly in the peel and pulp. These phytochemicals have a wide range of pharmacological activities and play a crucial role in preventing and treating lifestyle-related diseases.

We strongly believe in the beneficial properties of citrus fruits, particularly lemons grown without chemical preparations. This is why we used them to create our Hesperides line: Espera, our artisanal lemon liqueur; Egle, our lemonade; and Arethusa, our orange lemonade. They are all an ode to nature, a tribute to women, especially those like me who have chosen the land as their daily “field” of experience, dedicating themselves to its cultivation while respecting natural rhythms and laws. You can find the entire Hesperides line in our online store.

Iolanda