Bitter Lemon

HEX: #CAE00D | Modern Palette

On White
1.48:1
FAIL
On Black
14.18:1
PASS

Color Specifications

HEX
#CAE00D
RGB
202, 224, 13
HSL
66°, 94% ,87%
CMYK
9.82, 0, 94.2, 12.16

About Bitter Lemon

Bitter Lemon (#CAE00D) is a color with RGB(202, 224, 13) and HSL(66.26°, 94.2%, 87.84%). It is commonly associated with Playful moods. In design, it fits Neon, Warm styles and is suitable for Text, Button, Background. Its complementary color is #230DE0, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #0DCAE0 and #E00DCA. The name comes from Bitter Lemon (English).

  • HEX: #CAE00D
  • RGB: 202, 224, 13
  • HSL: 66.26°, 94.2%, 87.84%
  • Mood: Playful
  • Style: Neon, Warm
  • Use case: Text, Button, Background
  • Complementary color: #230DE0
  • Triadic colors: #0DCAE0, #E00DCA
  • The name comes from Bitter Lemon (English).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Bitter Lemon #CAE00D is used in Monochromatic, Neutral + Accent, Analogous, 3 + 1 + 1 palettes, giving designers ready-made combinations for backgrounds, surfaces, accents, and interface elements.

Monochromatic Five tones of the same hue — a reliable scale for backgrounds, surfaces, and text.
 
 
BITTER LEMON
 
 
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
 
 
BITTER LEMON
 
 
Analogous Five hues drifting across a 60° arc — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.
 
 
BITTER LEMON
 
 
3 + 1 + 1 Three analogous base colors, one complementary accent, one dark anchor — bold yet balanced.
 
 
 
 
 

Color Harmonies

Bitter Lemon #CAE00D pairs with #230DE0 as its complementary color, and #0DCAE0 and #E00DCA in triadic combinations. These harmony relationships help create balanced color combinations for UI, branding, and design work.

Complementary

The color directly opposite on the color wheel — creates maximum contrast and vibrance.

BITTER LEMON
Analogous

Colors adjacent on the wheel — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.

BITTER LEMON
Triadic

Three colors equally spaced 120° apart — bold, balanced, and visually rich.

BITTER LEMON
Split-Complementary

Two colors flanking the complement — high contrast with less tension than full complementary.

BITTER LEMON
Tetradic (Square)

Four colors at 90° intervals — rich variety, best when one color dominates.

BITTER LEMON
Monochromatic

Shades and tints of the same hue — cohesive, elegant, and easy to work with.

BITTER LEMON

Shades & Tints

The shade and tint range for Bitter Lemon #CAE00D moves from dark #161801 tones through the base color to lighter #FBFEE7 tones, making it useful for depth, hierarchy, and background variation.

BITTER LEMON

Color Characteristics

Mood
Playful
Style
Neon Warm
Use case
Text Button Background

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #DADA15
Protanopia #DEDE0B
Tritanopia #D8D3D3
Achromatopsia #D4D4D4

Frequently Asked Questions

Bitter Lemon (#CAE00D) is a color with RGB(202, 224, 13) and HSL(66.26°, 94.2%, 87.84%).

#CAE00D pairs strongly with #230DE0 as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#CAE00D is suitable for Text, Button, Background and works well with Neon, Warm styles.

#CAE00D is commonly associated with Playful.

The name Bitter Lemon is linked to Bitter Lemon from English, meaning A carbonated soft drink, often containing quinine and lemon, giving it a characteristic bitter and citrus flavor..

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word Bitter Lemon
Meaning A carbonated soft drink, often containing quinine and lemon, giving it a characteristic bitter and citrus flavor.
Language English
First Recorded Use Mid-20th Century

History

While the concept of bitter drinks with citrus has ancient roots (e.g., medicinal tonics), the specific commercial product 'Bitter Lemon' emerged as part of the growing soft drink industry. Quinine, originally used as an anti-malarial, was incorporated into tonic water and later into bitter lemon for its distinctive taste. The addition of lemon provided a refreshing counterpoint to the bitterness. Schweppes is widely credited with popularizing the drink globally after its launch in 1957.

First Recorded Use

The term 'Bitter Lemon' as a specific beverage name became popular in the mid-20th century, particularly with the introduction of commercial brands like Schweppes Bitter Lemon in the 1950s.

Cultural Associations

Bitter Lemon is often consumed as a standalone refreshing drink, especially in warmer climates, or used as a mixer in alcoholic cocktails, similar to tonic water. It's particularly popular in Europe and parts of the Commonwealth. Its slightly more complex and less sweet profile distinguishes it from standard lemonades or sodas.

Similar Named Colors
Pear #D1E231 ΔE 1.54
Peridot #E6E200 ΔE 5.74
Vivid Lime Green #A6D608 ΔE 6.05
June Bud #BDDA57 ΔE 6.37

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #CAE00D;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #CAE00D;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #CAE00D;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #CAE00D,
        #C9C3FD
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #CAE00D,
        #C9C3FD
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$bitter-lemon: #CAE00D;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$bitter-lemon-r: 202;
$bitter-lemon-g: 224;
$bitter-lemon-b: 13;

// Usage
.element {
    background-color: $bitter-lemon;
    color: rgba($bitter-lemon-r, $bitter-lemon-g, $bitter-lemon-b, 0.8);
}