Calories and Protein in Lemon Zest
Nutrition data for lemon zest, raw lemon peel.
Quick answer: 1 tablespoon (6 g) of lemon zest has about 3 calories, 0.1 g of protein, 0 g of fat and 1 g of carbohydrate. Per 100 g it has 47 calories and 1.5 g of protein. These figures are for lemon zest that is raw lemon peel.
- 3calories
- 0.1 gprotein
- 0 gfat
- 1 gcarbs
per 1 tablespoon (6 g)
Serving sizes for lemon zest
| Serving | Weight | Calories | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 grams | 100 g (3.5 oz) | 47 | 1.5 g | 0.3 g | 16 g |
| 1 teaspoon | 2 g (0.1 oz) | 1 | 0 g | 0 g | 0.3 g |
| 1 tablespoon | 6 g (0.2 oz) | 3 | 0.1 g | 0 g | 1 g |
A teaspoon of zest weighs about 2 g and a tablespoon about 6 g. One medium lemon typically gives around a tablespoon, and our guide to zesting a lemon shows how to get it without the bitter white pith.
Full nutrition facts
| Nutrient | Per 100 g | Per 1 tablespoon (6 g) | % Daily Value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calories | 47 | 3 | |
| Total fat | 0.3 g | 0 g | 0% |
| Saturated fat | 0 g | 0 g | 0% |
| Sodium | 6 mg | 0 mg | 0% |
| Total carbohydrate | 16 g | 1 g | 0% |
| Dietary fiber | 11 g | 0.6 g | 2% |
| Total sugars | 4.2 g | 0.3 g | |
| Protein | 1.5 g | 0.1 g | 0% |
| Potassium | 160 mg | 10 mg | 0% |
| Calcium | 134 mg | 8 mg | 1% |
| Iron | 0.8 mg | 0 mg | 0% |
| Magnesium | 15 mg | 1 mg | 0% |
| Vitamin C | 129 mg | 7.7 mg | 9% |
*Percent Daily Value uses the FDA reference amounts for a 2,000 calorie diet and is calculated for 1 tablespoon (6 g). Source: USDA FoodData Central, record 167749 (Lemon peel, raw).
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About lemon zest nutrition
Lemon zest is the thin yellow outer layer of the peel, where the aromatic oils are. It is used in small amounts for flavor, so the calories in a recipe barely change when you add it.
How preparation changes the numbers
- USDA measures raw peel, so the figures here describe zest as it comes off the fruit. Candied peel or zest cooked in syrup will have more sugar and calories.
- Zest is used by the teaspoon, which keeps its calories and carbs very small in any single dish.
How lemon zest compares
Per 100 g, lemon zest ranks #19 of 30 foods on this site for protein and #11 for fewest calories.
Protein per 100 g
Calories per 100 g
Recipes with lemon zest
Questions about lemon zest
3 calories in 1 tablespoon (6 g) of lemon zest, or 47 calories per 100 g. These figures are for lemon zest that is raw lemon peel.
0.1 g of protein in 1 tablespoon (6 g) of lemon zest, or 1.5 g per 100 g. Protein makes up about 13 percent of its calories.
About 3 calories, from USDA's 6 g per tablespoon.
USDA lists 11 g of fiber per 100 g of raw peel. In a tablespoon (6 g) that is only about 0.6 g, because zest is used in tiny amounts.
Usually one medium lemon. Zest the lemon before you juice it, since a squeezed lemon is hard to grate.
Related guides
Work out your own numbers
More in citrus fruits and juices
Sources and method
Nutrient values come from USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy), record 167749: Lemon peel, raw, retrieved 2026-09-30. Serving weights are USDA household measures, or a simple fraction of one. Brands, growing conditions and cooking method change real-world numbers, so treat every figure as a good estimate. Written and reviewed by Claudio; read how we develop and check our numbers.
