From East to Zest - Scot Medbury of Sonoma Botanial Garden Ep. 24

Scot Medbury of the Sonoma Botanical Garden explains that a) no, they aren't a winery and b) they used to be called Quarryhill Botanical Garden and c) Sonoma is, come on, one of the best brands in America.

Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sonoma-spiel/id1634467429

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UuskGhmJ3EkWQk8DObR9b

Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/14e5c834-f050-4a8d-b0c7-8a1c9b278670

Hear about how Scot came to Sonoma from Brooklyn and San Francisco, and the work of the Sonoma Botanical Garden in preserving Asian plants and showcasing California native ones. And then we talk about their new exhibit, From East to Zest,

"an original, living exhibition illustrating citrus’ colorful journey across the globe. Immersed in fragrance and color, visitors learn fun facts as they stroll, from the myth of the Meyer Lemon to the cause of the Grapefruit Effect.

Virtually all citrus originated in Southeast Asia, yet today are thoroughly ingrained in the cuisines and cultures of the Americas. Imagine Peruvian food without lemons, or Mexican cuisine without limes!

Thousands of years of citrus cultivar selection and breeding has produced a vast trove of little-known, yet distinct citrus including such culinary treats as the Yuzu, beloved of chefs everywhere today, or the Sudachi, from which ponzu braising sauce is made. Bizarre forms, like the Buddha’s Hand citron, or unusual hybrids like Limequats and Mandarinquats, add to the fascinating range of citrus grown in California today. These zesty delights have travelled far from their historic ranges and new DNA evidence is changing how botanists think about this tangled floral family."