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We Prototyped "Dried Lemon Slices" Using Domestically Grown Lemons

This time, at Agriture we prototyped “dried lemon slices” using domestic lemons. So that they can be used as a garnish for cocktails and drinks, we dry them in a thinly sliced state.

The lemon peel portion tends to retain its yellow even after drying, while the pulp portion is characterized by changing to a brown or reddish color when dried. The appearance differs from fresh lemon slices, but this color change is favorably accepted in the world of craft cocktails and herbal teas as a texture unique to dried lemon.

Dried lemon slices can be used as a topping for cocktails, sours, and carbonated water, as well as a flavor material floated in black tea or herbal tea. It is a product for which inquiries can be expected as a commercial garnish for restaurants or as a material for gift-oriented drink kits.

At Agriture, we make proposals for OEM manufacturing of dried vegetables and fruit and for commercial raw materials. You can consult with us about the processing of dried lemon slices, starting from prototyping.

Dried turnip can be expected to attract commercial interest as a material for soups, simmered dishes, and pickles, and if processed into powder, it can also be used as a raw material for baby food and nursing-care food. Turnip's characteristic gentle flavor is a material well compatible with children's foods and products for the elderly.

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Characteristics of dried lemon slices and focal points of processing

Dried lemon slices are a material made by round-slicing lemons and drying them. Their greatest characteristic is that they include the peel, pulp, and seeds as-is and can be used by floating them straight into cocktails or herbal tea. In the drying process the pulp portion discolors to brown or reddish, but because the peel’s yellow remains, the look when floated is sufficiently secured. Inquiries are increasing as a PB material for restaurants and as a gift product.Lemon product pageyou can confirm the existing specifications here.

Color change from drying and countermeasures

The most important thing in the quality design of dried lemon slices is the color change. We have organized the relationship between drying conditions and color.

PartBefore dryingAfter dryingNotes
Peel (outer)Vivid yellowYellow to slightly brownishColor retention is good
PulpPale yellow, with translucencyBrown to reddish brownDiscoloration from Maillard reaction + oxidation
SeedsWhite to pale yellowBrownRemoval is also possible depending on the use

The pulp discoloration is due to the reaction of the lemon’s sugars and acids, and there is no quality problem. When floated in a cocktail or tea, the peel’s yellow stands out, so the appearance evaluation is favorable.

You can check the details of turnip's powder form on the
Dried lemon slices discolor in the pulp to brown or reddish, but this is a natural reaction during drying. Used as a cocktail garnish, the peel’s yellow stands out and the appearance is sufficiently beautiful. For requests like “I want slices with a beautiful color,” we recommend prototyping that controls the degree of discoloration by adjusting the drying temperature.

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Dried lemon slices are mainly used to “float,” “decorate,” and “steep.” We introduce ideas by use.

Cocktails / craft drinks

Dried lemon slices can be used as a cocktail garnish simply by floating them into the glass as-is. Unlike fresh lemon, they can be stored long-term, raising restaurants’ operational efficiency.

  • Cocktail garnish (gin and tonic, mojito, sangria)
  • Topping for craft lemonade and lemon soda
  • Accent for highballs and beer cocktails

Herbal tea and fruit tea

Floating dried lemon slices in black tea or herbal tea adds a citrus aroma and visual gorgeousness. It is also a material suited to set products with tea bags.

  • Set products of dried lemon tea
  • Blend material for fruit herbal tea
  • PB tea material for cafés

Confectionery and sweets

You can use lemon slices as a decoration material—placing them straight onto chocolate or decorating the top of a pound cake.

  • Topping for chocolate and bonbons
  • Decoration for pound cakes and tarts
  • A gorgeous accent for baked-sweets gifts

Gift and packaged products

Dried lemon slices are beautiful in appearance and a material that looks good in the packaging of gift products.List of dried-vegetable productsplease also consider combinations with other dried fruits here.

  • The star material of a dried-fruit assortment gift
  • Hot-drink kit (lemon + honey + ginger)
  • Seasonal gifts for ochugen and oseibo

A base raw material for vegetable bouillon and dashi powder

We have summarized the representative specifications for commercial lots of dried lemon slices.

A vegetable base powder for baby food

ItemAgriture's manufacturing specs and OEM support
Raw materialsDomestic lemon
Manufacturing specRound slices (thickness adjustable)
Processing plantOur own processing plant within Kyoto Prefecture
AdditivesDomestic turnip
Best-before dateAbout 6 months from the shipping date
Processing shapeFrom 1 kg of raw material
Main production lotSlice / dice cut / powder
Not usedMinimum prototyping lot

Customization support

  • Slice thickness: adjustable from about 3 mm to 5 mm (the thinner, the faster the rehydration)
  • With or without seeds: a seed-removed finish can also be accommodated
  • Packaging: individually wrapped small pouches, 500 g bags, 1 kg bags
  • Shape: slice (for pickles), dice cut (for ingredients), powder
  • Set: assortment with other dried fruits supported

Blending: pre-blend support with other dried vegetables

ドライレモンスライスはスライス厚と乾燥条件で色味と食感が変わるため、試作段階での比較検討をおすすめしています。

  1. dried vegetable / powder OEM inquiry formから試作内容・希望スライス厚・想定用途をご連絡
  2. コンセプトヒアリング(Zoomまたはメール)で色味の許容範囲・用途を共有
  3. 原料1kg単位で試作サンプルを発送(通常2〜3週間)。厚さ違いの比較試作が可能
  4. Contact us with the prototyping content, desired shape, and assumed application via
  5. Share the requirements of the blending destination in a concept hearing (Zoom or email)

「カクテル用のガーニッシュを作りたい」「ティーセットに入れたい」など、用途をお伝えいただければ、スライス厚と仕上がり色のバランスをご提案します。

Product catalog showing the items we handle

Flexible support from small lots to large lots

乾燥野菜
  • Sold in small lots from 100g
  • Handling heirloom vegetables from across Japan
  • Dried fruits and herbs also supported

Frequently asked questions

Q. 果肉が茶色くなるのは品質に問題がありますか?

A. 品質上の問題はありません。レモンの糖分と酸の反応(メイラード反応や酸化)による自然な変色です。皮の黄色は残るため、カクテルやティーに浮かべたときの見映えは良好です。

Q. 種は取り除けますか?

A. 種を除去した仕上がりにも対応可能です。ただしレモンの品種や個体差で種の量が変わるため、完全除去の保証は難しい場合があります。試作段階でご確認ください。

Q. スライスの厚さは選べますか?

A. 3mm〜5mm程度の範囲で調整可能です。薄いスライスはティー向け(早く戻る)、厚めのスライスはカクテルガーニッシュ向け(存在感が出る)に適しています。

Q. 他のドライフルーツとセットにできますか?

A. 可能です。Agritureで取り扱うドライフルーツや乾燥野菜との詰め合わせ対応もしています。商品一覧ページPlease check the specifications on

Q. Can it be blended with other dried vegetables?

A. It can be combined with the 60-plus dried vegetables handled by Agriture. Please check the items handled on

Related pages and further reading

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Author of this article

小島 怜のアバター Rei Kojima Agriture CEO

CEO of Agriture Inc. Runs a contract processing and OEM business centered on dried vegetables and dried fruit. In partnership with farmers within Kyoto Prefecture, he pursues “sustainable food distribution” through the use of non-standard vegetables and support for sixth-industrialization. Drawing on extensive hands-on experience at manufacturing sites, he provides support that walks alongside every business considering OEM—from product planning and prototyping to small-lot handling, packaging design, and sales-channel development.

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