Glossary · Z
Ingredients & Pantry
Zest
The colored outer layer of a citrus peel, containing the essential oils.
Zest is where the flavor of a citrus lives — the pith below it is just bitter. Grated zest goes into oleo saccharum, infusions, and garnishes. When a recipe calls for 'lemon peel,' it wants zest, not the whole rind.