A steep hike in the price of lemon is leaving a sour sensation on Mumbai’s taste buds. In the past week, the price has more than doubled, with one lemon now costing Rs5. Just seven days back, the price of a lemon was Rs2, and a month ago, vegetable vendors would sell three for Rs5.
The vendors attribute the hike to a short supply for the last 10 days. “The supply of lemons has decreased in two weeks. The monsoon stopped abruptly, which could be the main reason,” said Dinanath Yadav, a vendor from Matunga.
For households grappling with a steep price rise in essential commodities, including lentils and pulses, the lemon price hike has further pinched their pockets. To add that extra zing to their cuisine, they are substituting lemons with amchur powder (ground dried mangoes), citrus powder or tomatoes.
“Every commodity has become expensive. To maintain our monthly budget, we have to find substitutes,” said Kanchan Mehta, a homemaker, who has started using amchur powder. “In most dals, a tangy flavour is better. Now I add tomatoes,” said Radhika Jha, another homemaker.
Also, most restaurants get upset if customers demand more lemon to spice up a dish. “We tell them politely that the price of lemon has increased, so we serve restricted portions. Most patrons understand our problem,” said Vishwas Shetty, who manages a restaurant in Dadar.
