If you thought the love language of an Assamese is a cup of good tea, you have probably not dined enough with them. No, it is not the alu pitika (Assamese mash potato) or the famed fish tenga. It is the famed Kaji nemu (kaji lemon), which has been declared the state fruit of Assam. Kaji nemu is a lemon whose botanical name is citrus limon, and a GI-certified product. The oval-shaped elongated lemon looks a bit like the gondhoraj lebu but is different. It is not as pungently fragrant as the gondhoraj and its peel is smooth and thin.
The Kaji nemu is a staple in every Assamese household. The taste of the lemon is such that people even chew the slightly bitter rind. In Assam when anyone says nemu, (Assamese word for lemon), they be only referring to Kaji nemu. While this is easily available in various parts of Assam, getting Kaji nemu can be quite a task in other parts of India. Those living away from Assam on their annual visits home will do everything to bring back a few. Blame its heady aroma and the taste that makes it stand apart from other lemons.
