Which organic acids give citrus fruits their sour flavor?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

The primary organic acid responsible for the characteristic sour flavor of citrus fruits, such as lemons, oranges, and grapefruits, is citric acid.12

Citric acid is a carboxylic acid that functions as a major flavor component in these fruits. While other organic acids like malic acid are found in many fruits, citric acid is the defining acidic compound associated with the Citrus genus.21