Chinese Folklore: The Lemon Tree and the Pumelo Tree

Folklore often provides an answer to natural occurrences, and that is the case with this tale from China. This story is about the cross-pollination of a lemon tree and a pumelo tree. You may have seen the spelling pomelo, which is often associated with grapefruits, but the pumelo/pummelo/pomelo is actually a precursor to grapefruit. They have similarities, including reacting poorly with quite a few medications, but they are different fruit.

This tale from China is about two friends, a Lemon Tree, and a Pumelo Tree. Though the tale covers a natural occurrence (the cross-pollination of the citrus fruit), it also has an important message about friendship. This is an updated retelling of the original Chinese folktale.

Once, long ago, a Lemon Tree and a Pumelo Tree grew near each other in an old orchard. They were old friends, having been grown from seedlings to fruiting trees side-by-side. Though there were other trees nearby, none were as close as the Lemon Tree and the Pumelo Tree. They became like sisters.

Each spring, the trees would open their blossoms, and beautiful flowers would cover their branches. They were happy with the joy of spring. Their hearts would fill with happiness as birds gathered to serenade the orchard. In the warm spring winds, the Lemon Tree and the Pumelo Tree would bend and dance to the birdsong, their fragrant flowers waving in the sunshine.

The Pumelo Tree was content with her life but was saddened one summer to learn that the Lemon Tree was not as happy. She was shocked when the Lemon Tree said to her, “I wish I were a Pumelo Tree instead of a Lemon Tree.”

“Why would you feel this way, Lemon Tree?” Pumelo Tree asked.

“Your fruit is far more beloved by the children of men than mine,” answered Lemon Tree. “They find my fruit sour and bitter. The first fruits of a season from my branches are seen as inedible and destroyed. The second fruits of the season are stored in the sun for nearly a month before they are eaten. My fruits are not sold in the marketplace as yours are.”

“But your fruits are picked, as mine are, so surely your fruits are well-liked!” Pumelo Tree said.

“They have their uses, it seems,” replied Lemon Tree. “But my fruits are not well-liked and thought of like yours are, dear friend. Your fruit is sweet and juicy. Your fruit is so beloved that it is honored on the feast days of the Moon each month. They are placed on the first table of the New Year feast, and all who gather say, ‘look how beautiful!’ It sits heavy on my heart that each spring we each blossom with equally beautiful flowers, that in winter and fall we look almost as twins, but when we bear fruit, yours is celebrated while mine is despised.”

Pumelo Tree shifted her branches. “I am not sure I would say the difference between our fruits is so vast, Lemon Tree.”

“Oh, but it is!” the Lemon Tree wailed. “Your fruit is kissed—mine is thrown away. How I wish my fruit were a blessing to the world just as yours are!”

Troubled, the Pumelo Tree thought all through the night as the Lemon Tree slept, having cried herself to sleep. No words the Pumelo Tree has said comforted her friend. Even when Pumelo Tree told Lemon Tree that the orchardist had remarked just the other day how beautiful and fragrant Lemon Tree was, she could not be consoled.

Pumelo wanted to help her friend because she could not bear someone she loved being so sad. She thought long and hard. Finally, a solution came to her, but it would have to wait until the next spring.

And so Pumelo Tree did the best she could to keep her friend’s spirits up as the months passed. Finally, it was spring again, and their beautiful blossoms were once more dancing in the wind. It was time for Pumelo Tree to put her plan into action.

“Would you do me a favor, honorable bee?” she asked the first that came to her flowers.

“What can I do for you, Pumelo Tree?” the bee buzzed back.

“Usually, you come to me after gathering pollen from another pumelo tree, and my dear friend, the Lemon Tree, is visited by a bee that came from another lemon tree. This year, can you switch? Visit me after visiting a lemon tree, and visit her after visiting a pumelo tree.”

“Of course, I can do this for you, Pumelo Tree. But won’t this alter your fruit?” the bee asked.

“It shall, sir bee, and that is the point,” Pumelo Tree happily replied.

And so the bees followed Pumelo Tree’s instructions, and she told her friend, “Wait until the next time we fruit, and you’ll see how you will be honored.”

Lemon Tree wasn’t convinced, but she kept faith because her friend seemed so sure.

Soon, the first fruiting happened. Pumelo Tree’s fruits were pulled first, as they always were, by children giddy at the thought of a sweet treat.

“Pumelo’s fruit is more sour this year!” they exclaimed but still ate the fruit happily.

Lemon Tree was worried. “You’ve let me ruin your fruit! I’m so sorry, Pumelo Tree!”

But Pumelo Tree was not worried. “Let them try your fruit, and you’ll see,” she soothed.

And so the children pulled the fruit from the lemon tree, which they could see was different from previous years’ fruit. “Lemon Tree’s fruit is more beautiful than I’ve ever seen!” they observed as they picked the fruit. Once it was all picked, uncertainly, they each took a bite of the fruit. “Oh, but how delicious!”

And Lemon Tree’s heart swelled with happiness as her fruit was regarded equally with Pumelo Tree’s. And Pumelo Tree was happier than she’d ever been, even though her fruit was slightly sourer because her friend’s spirits had been lifted. And so they lived, sharing their happiness and flavors forever.