Pompia Citron

The Pompia citron (Citrus limon var. pompia Camarda, 2015), known as sa pompia in Sardinian, is a variety of lemon native to Sardinia, which is particularly widespread in the municipalities of Siniscola, Posada, Torpè, and Orosei.
Until July 2015 it was known by the nomen nudum of Citrus x monstruosa, which was not scientifically recognized.
The origins of the Pompia citron are still unclear, but the most accredited theory classifies it as a hybrid of the citron and the lemon, although some scholars suggest it is a cross between a citron and a grapefruit. However, it is certain that it is among the rarest citrus fruit in the world. Up until 20 years ago, there were just a few hundred trees. The revival and rediscovery of the fruit dates from the late 1990s, when it was decided to plant a large orchard of Pompia citrons as part of a social farming project involving the Siniscola Municipal Council and the local mental health centre. In 2004, the “sa pompia” Slow Food Presidium was founded in Siniscola to protect this rare example of local biodiversity, thanks to the union of five producers who decided to conduct the project. Since then the “sa Pompia” citron has participated in many Slow Food events.