Finger Lime

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

Finger lime / Citrus australasica / is an exotic citrus plant of the family Rutaceae. It can be seen in the rainforests of Eastern Australia. It is widespread in New South Wales. Citrus australasica is a small tree or shrub. It reaches a height of ten meters. The leaves are green, elliptical, smaller than other citrus plants.

The plant is popular because of the shape of its fruits, resembling fingers. They are oval-cylindrical and reach a length of ten centimeters. Their diameter is about 2-3 centimeters. The fruits weigh about 120-150 grams. The first thing you will notice about them is the thin skin.

Interestingly, it can be painted in a variety of colors, including green, red, orange, yellowish, brown, purple, burgundy and even black. In fact, it is one of the few citrus fruits that can be seen in such a wide variety of colors.

The flesh of the fruit is made up of many round sections that are filled with juice. These peculiar balls, which are separated from each other, are somewhat reminiscent of fish caviar. At the same time the structure of finger lime can be compared to that of pomegranate. The taste of the flesh is sour, reminiscent of that of lime. The scent, as you will guess, is typically citrus. It is used in many recipes of Australian cuisine.

History of finger lime

Although this unique citrus has only begun to gain great popularity in recent years, it is not new to humanity. Chronicles show that it has been consumed by Australian aborigines for thousands of years. It is certain that the plant Citrus australasica appeared without any human intervention.

However, the lucky star of the fruit rose in the second half of the last century, when the scientist Dr. Joe Fer donated twigs with buds of the unusual Australian plant at the University of California at Riverside. Then the plant began to be cultivated more seriously for the purposes of the food industry.

Composition of finger lime

The finger lime it is not yet well studied by specialists. However, it is already known that the fleshy part of the fruit contains potassium, vitamin B9 and a large amount of vitamin C. Lime finger is also a source of citric acid.

Types of finger lime

The finger lime present in many varieties, which is characterized by different colors. Many hybrid forms are also known, among which Faustrime, which contains genes of three species of citrus plants, is of interest. This plant is a hybrid between Australian finger lime and limequat, which in turn is a hybrid between Mexican lime (Citrus aurantiifolia) and kumquat (Fortunella japonica).

The fruits of Faustrime are very similar to those of finger lime. At first they are colored green, but as they mature they turn yellow. The flesh of Faustrime has the same structure as Citrus australasica, but is relatively juicier, and can therefore be used with the same culinary success.

Growing finger lime

The cultivation of finger lime in Australia it has risen significantly in response to the great demand for its exotic and delicious fruits. This has also led to serious genetic experimentation with the species. Some of them are harder to grow than others. In general, however, Citrus australasica does not require any special care than most citrus plants.

The plant needs water and heat. It should not be directly exposed to very strong sunlight. The tree can be attacked by different types of wasps and caterpillars. Experts take these facts into account and therefore create hybrid forms that are far more resistant to any pests.

Cooking with finger lime

As already mentioned, the exotic pickling fruit is readily used in Australian cuisine. The bark of finger lime is peeled and chopped to obtain as a spice, or thrown away. Most often, the delicious inside of the fruit is used, which in its fresh state can be combined with almost any product, as long as the resulting taste is balanced.

The finger lime serves as a garnish for fish and meat dishes of chicken and beef. Chefs who like to experiment do not forget to add it to sushi. The fruit can be used in various fruit salads, where it can be combined with mango, pomelo, kiwi, plums and pears. It can be used with the same success in salads with avocado, spinach, tomatoes, cucumbers and more.

This type of lime can be found in juices, nectars, shakes, syrups, fruit purees and purees. The consistency of finger lime allows it to be used in jellies, jams, jams and even pickles. In fact, its cute berries turn out to be a great tool for decoration and desserts such as cheesecakes and cakes.

Benefits of finger lime

Because the plant itself is not well studied and its benefits are not well considered. It is clear, however, that as more citrus fruits and the finger lime acts tonic and energizing. The content of potassium in it determines its beneficial effect in diseases such as osteoporosis, diabetes and high blood pressure. The peel of the fruit can be used in the manufacture of aromatic sprays, which refresh the air at home.