How to Make a Lemon or Lime Twist

How to garnish your cocktail or drink with a pretty lemon twist, lime twist, or orange twist.

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In this post, I will show you the easy way to make a lemon twist or lime twist garnish. Cocktails and beverages with citrus ingredients can be garnished using a lemon twist, lime twist, or orange twist.

Sometimes called a lemon curl or citrus curl, a twist of citrus peel can add such a lovely touch. Citrus twists are easy to make, and they add visual appeal to your drink.

It’s simple! Here’s how.

Horizontal close-up of a lemon twist on a black background.

How to Make a Lemon or Lime Twist

How to garnish your cocktail or drink with a pretty lemon twist, lime twist, or orange twist.

COURSE: Drinks

Kosher Key: Parve

Servings: serving

Prep Time: 1

Cook Time: 1

Total Time: 2

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Ingredients

1 fresh ripe lemon, lime, or orange
1 sharp knife

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Instructions

Take a fresh lemon, lime, or orange. Slice a ring from it, about 1/4 inch thick, from the thickest part of the citrus.
Make a slice through one side of the peel and the pulp.
Use a paring knife to carefully slice around the fruit to separate the peel from the round of citrus. The white part of the peel, called the pith, is bitter. You don't want a lot of it on your lemon curl, but you do need a little pith intact for the curl to hold its shape. Aim to slice halfway between the edge of the citrus and the fruit, about halfway through the pith.
Cut the fruit pulp off of the peel so that you have one long thin strip of peel.
Trim any thick parts of pith away from the citrus peel strip.
Trim the edges, if you want to, to make the strip a uniform width (this is optional and will make it look more "perfect").
Twist the peel into a curly-q shape. You can simply twist it with your hands.
Or, you can twist it around a long skewer - like a chopstick. Use the warmth of your hands to mold the peel into a spiral curl. The peel should naturally hold its shape.
Use lemon or lime twists to garnish cocktails or beverages. Orange twists are lovely too. Sometimes called a lemon curl, lime curl, or orange curl, this citrus garnish couldn't be easier to make - and it will add a lovely, aromatic touch to your drink.