ZYLYA – a modern domestic variety of sour citron, bred at the Ufa Citronarium of Bashkiria in the late 20th century. The tree is of medium height, reaching about 3.8 meters, with medium-density crowns and a drooping shape. The bark is olive-gray, the shoots are arc-shaped, green, and hairless. The leaves are broadly oval in shape, shiny, smooth with serrated edges.
ZYLYA citron fruits are large, pear-shaped, measuring approximately 110 × 90 mm, with a mass ranging from 230 to 385 grams. The peel is thick, dense, smooth, and oily, shining with a golden-yellow hue; it is difficult to peel. The pulp is yellow, sweet-and-sour with a strong aroma, containing many essential oils; the taste is mildly sour, slightly sweet, and refreshing. Inside the fruit are numerous seeds of round-compressed shape, resembling lentils.
The variety is undemanding: it adapts well to both southern and northern climates, and seedlings were grown with acclimatization to the general climate in mind. Due to the high oiliness of the peel and rich taste, ZYLYA citron is suitable for fresh consumption, as well as for making juices, compotes, and preserves.
