Summer peaks, but soaring price of lemon leaves behind only a bitter taste

The next time Mrs Sharma offers you a glass of plain water instead of the usual nimbu paani, blame it on the surging prices.

- Shafaque Alam

Noida: For now, when life is giving lemons, it is also squeezing pockets.

With lemon prices touching Rs 300-400 a kilo in the retail markets of Noida and Ghaziabad, the humble summer drink is no less than elite now. People back from the scorching sun are being offered alternatives and many restaurants have quietly taken the lemonade off their daily menu. You may also not find the half lemon topping a plate of green salad at the dhaba and the neighbourhood chaat stall owner may even scoff at you if asked for an extra squeeze of sourness.

In the retail markets of Delhi, a kilo of lemon sold for Rs 300-350. Wholesale prices, however, ranged between Rs 120 and Rs 150. The price of lower grade and smaller lemons was between Rs 80 and 100.