Stunned baker uses giant nine-inch lemon for citrus baking spree – and cocktails

A bakery owner was stunned to discover a giant nine inch lemon that she claims is ‘the biggest she’s ever seen’ – and it even dwarves her baby’s head.

Tammy Warren did a double-take when she wandered past the fruit and veg stall at Lackham Farm in Chippenham, Wiltshire, and spotted the 4lb yellow whopper on Saturday.

The mum-of-three bought the fruit for £5, which she says is 17 times the size of a regular lemon, to rustle up a couple of extra-special cakes.

But during a two-and-a-half hour baking spree on Wednesday the 38-year-old went above and beyond whipping up a vast array of treats.

Tammy Warren was shocked to discover a 9-inch lemon at her farmers’ market and later used it for a huge baking spree

The monster citrus weighed 4 pounds and was 17 times bigger than the average household lemon

The monster citrus weighed 4 pounds and was 17 times bigger than the average household lemon

Tammy's baby, Sebastian was dwarfed in comparison to the citrus which was bigger than his head

Tammy’s baby, Sebastian was dwarfed in comparison to the citrus which was bigger than his head

It was grown in the grounds of Wiltshire College & University Centre's Lackham campus and comes from the same tree that produced a world record-sized lemon back in 1989

It was grown in the grounds of Wiltshire College & University Centre’s Lackham campus and comes from the same tree that produced a world record-sized lemon back in 1989

Using the colossal citrus, Tammy made a lemon and blueberry cake, lemon cupcakes, lemon cake pops and a lemon drizzle loaf.

The creative mum then turned her hand to lemon syrup, lemon marmalade, fresh lemonade, lemon curd, candied lemon peel and frozen lemon segments for ‘lots of gin and tonics’.

In the spirit of waste-not want-not, Tammy has set aside leftover flesh and zest to make a lemon chicken dinner and has kept the pips for planting.

Tammy, from Colerne, Wiltshire, said: ‘It’s the biggest lemon I’ve ever seen in my life, I thought it would make a great cake.

In the spirit of waste-not want-not, Tammy has set aside leftover flesh and zest to make a lemon chicken dinner and has kept the pips for planting

In the spirit of waste-not want-not, Tammy has set aside leftover flesh and zest to make a lemon chicken dinner and has kept the pips for planting

What a whopper! Tammy's kitchen scales revealed the lemon weighed almost 1.8kg or 4lbs

What a whopper! Tammy’s kitchen scales revealed the lemon weighed almost 1.8kg or 4lbs 

Using the colossal citrus, Tammy made a lemon and blueberry cake, lemon cupcakes, lemon cake pops and a lemon drizzle loaf

Using the colossal citrus, Tammy made a lemon and blueberry cake, lemon cupcakes, lemon cake pops and a lemon drizzle loaf

After cooing over the animals at the lambing weekend event, the family wandered to a nearby stall selling fruit and veg - and that's where Tammy spotted the monster fruit

After cooing over the animals at the lambing weekend event, the family wandered to a nearby stall selling fruit and veg – and that’s where Tammy spotted the monster fruit

Evelyn Warren, three, on the farm where the lambing event was held and the family later discovered the lemon

Evelyn Warren, three, on the farm where the lambing event was held and the family later discovered the lemon

‘It’s bigger than [my baby] Sebastian’s head.

‘In this case when life gives you lemons I made cakes, candied lemon peel, lemonade and will enjoy lots of gin and tonics.

‘It’s been fun making all these different things with the lemon, I’ve loved it.

‘We’re going to keep the seeds and grow our own.’

The family decided to keep the seeds of the huge citrus and plant them to grow their own. Pictured, Evelyn Warren

The family decided to keep the seeds of the huge citrus and plant them to grow their own. Pictured, Evelyn Warren

A Wiltshire College & University Centre spokesman said: 'The College is pleased its super-sized lemons are still as popular and sought after as ever. Pictured: the giant lemon

A Wiltshire College & University Centre spokesman said: ‘The College is pleased its super-sized lemons are still as popular and sought after as ever. Pictured: the giant lemon

The professional baker is no stranger to whipping up impressive baked treats. Pictured with a wedding cake she made

The professional baker is no stranger to whipping up impressive baked treats. Pictured with a wedding cake she made

Tammy visited the farm with MOD worker husband Stuart Warren, 36, and children Hannah Noble, 15, Evelyn Warren, three, and one-year-old Sebastian Warren.

After cooing over the animals at the lambing weekend event, the family wandered to a nearby stall selling fruit and veg – and that’s where Tammy spotted the monster fruit.

It was grown in the grounds of Wiltshire College & University Centre’s Lackham campus and comes from the same tree that produced a world record-sized lemon back in 1989.

The record-holding fruit weighed an eye-watering 10lb 9oz (4.8kg) with a girth of 31.5 inches (80cm).

With so much to spare, Tammy even made her own candied lemon peel

The lemon was bigger than the gin bottle that it would later be paired with

After seeing the size of it, the creative mum turned her hand to lemon syrup, lemon marmalade, fresh lemonade, lemon curd, candied lemon peel and frozen lemon segments for ‘lots of gin and tonics’

But during a two-and-a-half hour baking spree on Wednesday the 38-year-old went above and beyond whipping up a vast array of treats

But during a two-and-a-half hour baking spree on Wednesday the 38-year-old went above and beyond whipping up a vast array of treats

For the lemon and blueberry cake, Tammy even included candied lemon peel as an citrusy topping

For the lemon and blueberry cake, Tammy even included candied lemon peel as an citrusy topping

A normal lemon was dwarfed in comparison to the giant farmer's market citrus, which was 17 times bigger

A normal lemon was dwarfed in comparison to the giant farmer’s market citrus, which was 17 times bigger

It held the Guinness World Record title for 14 years until it lost out to an 11lb 10oz lemon grown in Israel.

Tammy, who runs Tammy Warren – Bespoke Celebration Cakes, said: ‘They were selling plants and herbs to grow [at home] – my husband bought a couple of chilli plants.

‘They’re well known for growing lemons too. They held the Guinness World Record for growing giant lemons for 14 years since 1989. They lost it to Israel.’

A Wiltshire College & University Centre spokesman said: ‘The College is pleased its super-sized lemons are still as popular and sought after as ever.

‘The fruits come from the same tree that produced our former world record-sized lemon that was grown back in the 1980s.

‘We have supplied many local people and retailers with our special fruit for a number of years and hope those sold at our Lackham Lambing events last weekend help to produce some delicious bakes and cakes.’

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