- Origins and Properties of Kaffir Lime
- Buying kaffir lime: What you should pay attention to
- Growing Kaffir Lime: Procedure and Location
- Kaffir lime care: Demands on substrate and Co.
- Use of Kaffir Lime Leaves
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The wrinkled lime variety is on the rise. We show how to grow and care for the kaffir lime and what the leaves are all about.
Some will recognize kaffir lime leaves (Citrus hystrix) from recipes for aromatic Thai dishes. The citrus fruit used as a medicinal and spice plant is becoming more and more popular with us. So that you never have to go without fresh kaffir lime leaves again, you can grow the plant yourself in a pot. We'll tell you everything you need to know about the origin, cultivation and care of this exotic type of lime here.
Origins and Properties of Kaffir Lime
The kaffir lime probably originally came from the Malaysian archipelago region. To this day, it is cultivated as a useful and ornamental plant, primarily in its homeland in Southeast Asia. The kaffir lime grows into a bush up to two meters high. The branches of the plant are heavily covered with thorns. The dark green leaves are oval to slightly teardrop-shaped and winged. The small flowers are white to pink in color and emit a strong, aromatic scent.
At first glance, the fruit of the kaffir lime doesn't look very spectacular: the skin is shriveled and wrinkled. But with this type of lime, it's what's on the inside that counts. The smell of the citrus fruit has a strong deterrent effect on vermin and moths. Even the Dutch are said to have rubbed their heads with crushed kaffir limes during colonial times to protect themselves from tropical insects. Essential oil is also extracted from the exotic fruits. And not only the fruits have a special aroma, the leaves of the special lime are also used as a spice in Asian cuisine.
Buying kaffir lime: What you should pay attention to
When buying a kaffir lime tree, you should consider a few things: The he alth of the plant should be in optimal condition. Pay attention to whether you can discover traces of pests or diseases on the sapling. The plant should also not be damaged andno parts of the plant are broken off. Most lime plants are grafted, so make sure the graft is of good quality. You can purchase citrus plants from nurseries or well-stocked garden centers. Kaffir lime trees are also available for purchase online.
Growing Kaffir Lime: Procedure and Location
As with all types of lime, kaffir limes are tropical plants that can only be grown in pots in our climate. In summer, kaffir lime can be outside, but in winter, move it to a warm, sheltered spot indoors. The optimal location for the lime is full sun and sheltered from the wind. In contrast to its relative, the lime, the kaffir lime can also overwinter in cooler rooms. Although bright places with temperatures of 8 to 14 °C are optimal, if such a place is not available, a place with lower temperatures of 3 to 10 °C will suffice. This could be the stairwell or a basement, for example.
The kaffir lime has the following requirements for its location:
- Outside in summer, inside in winter
- Sunny and sheltered from the wind
- As bright and warm place as possible
- Overwinter in a bright place at 8 to 14 °C
- Alternatively, a slightly cooler, darker place can also serve as winter storage
Proceed as follows when planting the kaffir lime: First, a drainage system is installed in the bucket to prevent waterlogging, because the lime doesn't like it at all. Then we spread a plant fleece over it and filled in a little substrate. We recommend using a special citrus soil or mixing it yourself. The root ball of the plant can then be removed from the old pot and the lime placed in the new pot. Now this is only filled with soil and watered properly.
You can find detailed instructions on how to plant limes here.
Kaffir lime care: Demands on substrate and Co.
The ideal substrate for the kaffir lime should be as permeable as possible, have a high humus content and a slightly acidic PH value between 6 and 6.5. The lime grows very quickly, especially in the first few years, so it should be repotted regularly. Is it time for theYou can tell that the substrate in the pot is completely rooted through. To ensure that the crown of the lime grows evenly and fully, you can cut it back regularly. The right time has come for this before the plant sprouts again in spring around March.
Tip: To protect your hands, it is best to wear gloves when working with the kaffir lime. Otherwise, the many thorns on the branches of the lime make care very uncomfortable.
Kaffir lime care also includes regular watering and fertilizing. In summer you can treat the exotic plant to a special citrus fertilizer once a week. As an ecological alternative, you can also use an organic fertilizer. The Plantura organic universal fertilizer with organic long-term effect is very suitable for limes, for example. Water the kaffir lime so that the entire root ball is saturated with water. Then only water again when the pot is half dry.
Use of Kaffir Lime Leaves
You will rarely find kaffir lime fruits in stores here. If you happen to spot one of the shriveled fruits, it will most likely be green. However, fully ripe fruit on your own tree will turn yellow. In some countries, the fruits of the kaffir lime are cooked whole. In Malaysia, for example, the special limes give curries and soups an extraordinary taste. The leaves of the kaffir lime are used much more often in the kitchen. They are either cooked as a whole or cut into very fine strips and fried. The leaves are not eaten whole, but finely chopped. Crushed kaffir lime leaves are also found in many curry pastes.
The leaves are easy to freeze and preserve. However, they are not suitable for drying. Why not try a fiery, spicy TomYam soup or a mild, green Thai curry with coconut milk and kaffir lime leaves.
Did you know that there are many more exotic types of lime and lemon? You can read more about the special types and varieties of citrus fruits here.