Many people ask what the preferred "brand" of Etrog is. Many merchants offer what is known as the "Hazon Ish" Etrog. Of course, this is not the actual Etrog used by the Hazon Ish. It means that these Etrogim have a pedigree from the Etrog used by him. The Hazon Ish’s disciple, Rav Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz zt"l planted a tree from the seeds of the Hazon Ish’s Etrog, and from the seeds of the fruit of that tree many orchards were planted bearing the name of the "Hazon Ish Etrogim." Since it is assumed that the Hazon Ish would only use an Etrog of guaranteed authenticity without suspicion of grafting, all Etrogim emanating from that fruit have the same status.
Another type of Etrog is known as the Temani (Yemenite) Etrog. When the Yemenite Jews immigrated to Eres Yisrael, they brought their Etrog tees with them to replant. These Etrogim also have a great lineage. In fact, many Sepharadi Poskim, including Hacham Ovadia and Hacham Bension, recommended them. It is said that even the Brisker Rav praised them.
There are also Moroccan Etrogim. Hacham Ovadia, in Hazon Ovadia (p.238) praises them for their beauty and states that many great Moroccan Hachamim made a Beracha on them. These are also okay.
One thing is clear from the Poskim: One should buy an Etrog grown in Eres Yisrael. It is an embarrassment to choose an Etrog from outside our land. The Aruch Hashulhan (Rav Yechiel Michel Epstein of Nevarduk,1829-1908) in Siman 648 writes very forcefully on this matter (listen to audio for exact citation in English). All the aforementioned Etrogim grow in Israel. The Hazon Ish Etrog originated there. The Yemenite Etrog have been transplanted to Eres Yisrael. There are also Moroccan Etrogim grown in Israel.
Yanover Etrogim, originate from Italy, and have a distinguished pedigree.
Buying one of these Etrogim insures that Etrog is in fact an Etrog and not grafted from other fruits. However, this does not insure that the Etrog is Kosher. It may have one of the disqualifying features such as black spots, a broken Pitom etc. One should show his Etrog to a competent Halachic authority.
It is important to buy an Etrog from a reputable source who knows the Halachot. Today, people open up stands on street corners. That is not the way to buy an Etrog. That’s how you buy a newspaper. Imagine if people started selling jewelry on street corners. Would one buy a diamond that way? An Etrog is a precious jewel.
SUMMARY
One should buy an Etrog with a known pedigree, grown in Eres Yisrael. It is important to buy an Etrog from a reputable source and consult with a competent Halachic authority.
