Spanish Lime

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

The green lemon, better known as lime, is a tasty and useful citrus fruit that is very similar to the ordinary yellow lemon, but is a separate fruit.

One of the most common types of lime is Spanish lime. Spanish lime is found mainly in the tropics, especially in Central and South America, as well as some parts of Africa.

Although extremely popular in these areas, Spanish lime is not well known in other parts of the world.

The Spanish lime / Melicoccus bijugatus; Mamoncillo / is a tall tree with leathery leaves. Inhabits the tropics of America. Some consider Spanish lime to be an evergreen and others a deciduous plant.

The plant is deciduous because its leaves are renewed annually, but at the same time it is evergreen because it never runs out of leaves.

The fall in the spring in the rainy season is extremely spectacular, because in just 3 hours the new leaves grow and the flowers crack. By the end of the second day, all the old leaves fall to the ground, forming a dense carpet.

The colors of Spanish lime have a very pleasant and strong aroma. It radiates at a great distance, attracting swarms of bees. In addition to bees, Spanish lime also attracts hummingbirds.

Growing Spanish lime

The Spanish lime can be grown as a houseplant. It is unpretentious enough, especially when watered enough.

Spanish lime is propagated by seeds, which retain their germination for 2-3 weeks. They are immediately planted in a large deep pot. The seeds germinate together and quickly, and the plants have large and deep roots.

To successfully grow Spanish lime, the room temperature should not be lower than 25 degrees. After germination, a mini-greenhouse is made.

On days when the light part of the day is less than 12 hours, the plants should be additionally illuminated. Watering should be regular, because in the absence of moisture the leaves begin to fall off.

The Spanish lime begins to bear fruit in the 3-5th year of his life. It can also be propagated by cuttings. In the indoor cultivation of Spanish lime, the plant needs pruning to form a small tree.

In our country you still can not find this exotic fruit, but if you still come across, choose fruits with smooth and uncracked skin.

Cooking Spanish lime

The Spanish lime is green and has a large edible core that has a pleasant yellow color. Traditionally, the whole fruit is peeled and the vitamin-rich juice is sucked out. Its seeds are also edible, but are too astringent.

On the other hand, few people know that seeds can be printed and eaten. So they are much tastier and even similar to peanuts. The taste of Spanish lime is similar to that of ordinary lime, but it is more sour.

Spanish lime juice can also be used to flavor alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails, marinades and dressings.

Gives an incredible taste to fruit and vegetable salads. Juice, jellies and jams can be made from Spanish lime. The locals prepare drinks by soaking the peeled fruits in rum and sugar.

Benefits of Spanish lime

The Spanish lime is a low-calorie and dietary fruit. It does not contain cholesterol, sodium and fat, so it can be consumed in unlimited quantities without worrying about weight. It is an excellent source of fiber and improves digestion.

The Spanish lime has a beneficial effect on the lining of the stomach. It is believed that this is the main reason that makes it such a popular ingredient in alcoholic cocktails.

Spanish lime is an excellent source of iron, so it is extremely useful in iron deficiency.