BRITISH ETIQUETTE: DIFFICULT FRUIT

Bananas

If you're eating a banana at the dinner table, peel it fully, and use a fork to cut off bite-sized pieces. In all other situations, revert to primate manners - hold, peel and bite.

Grapes

Do not pick individual grapes off a bunch. Use your fingers, or grape scissors, to remove a small bunch.

Lemon

A wedge of lemon usually accompanies a fish or seafood dish. You can either squeeze the lemon with your fingers, or against the tines of a fork, which channels the juice. It is polite to cup your hand around the lemon while squeezing so you don't spray those around you, and squeeze the lemon low over your plate, not up high. If you are serving segments of lemon make sure you remove all visible pips.

Kumquats

Usually consumed raw, but occasionally cooked, kumquats are eaten whole including the skin. The top end may be cut off first.

Apples

At the dinner table, apples should be cut into quarters and the core removed from each piece. You can then use your fingers to eat the quarters. Elsewhere, just hold and crunch.

Written by Victoria Overton

Native English Spain is dedicated to make learning English simple, fun and affordable for Spanish people.