Some beverage recipes call for a lemon zest garnish. What is lemon zest?
A. Zest is the perfumy outermost skin layer of citrus fruit (usually oranges or lemons), which is removed with the aid of a citrus zester, paring knife or vegetable peeler. Only the colored portion of the skin (and not the white pith) is considered the zest. The aromatic oils in citrus zest are what add so much flavor to food. More definitions for cooking terms can be found in the Oriental Foods And Recipes glossary.
