As with all members of the citrus family, the humble lemon has travelled far and wide around the globe from its original home in northwestern India, becoming a favoured culinary, medicinal and aromatic fruit along the way. A powerful antioxidant rich in Vitamin C, it was given to sailors to help them ward off and treat scurvy during long voyages. In Israel, it was used in ancient Jewish spiritual practices, and it is also depicted in the frescoes of ancient Pompeii. Even today, the juice is used in Italy to treat gingivitis and in Cuba, it is recommended to treat fevers.