The caviar lime gets its name from its pulp. We show what needs to be considered when cultivating and caring for the caviar lime and what makes it so special.
Caviar from your own garden: You don't have to go to the fish farms for this. Because a special type of lime, the caviar lime (Microcitrus australasica), provides so-called lime caviar. If you open the exotic fruit, there are small balls inside that really look like caviar. To enjoy this speci alty, you can grow the caviar lime yourself in your garden or on the balcony. In our article you will find out where the caviar lime comes from, what you have to consider when growing it and how you can properly care for the special citrus plant.
The caviar lime is also called Australian finger lime. This is due to the fact that the fruits are elongated and thus resemble fingers. In English, lime caviar is also called "lime pearls". These pearls are a real luxury product: they are very expensive to buy and not easy to come by. It is all the more attractive to grow the caviar lime yourself in order to be able to harvest your own lime caviar.
Origin and Properties of Caviar Lime
The botanical name Microcitrus australasica reveals the origin of the caviar lime: Australia, more precisely the semi-arid dry zones of Northern Australia. It is one of the few surviving wild forms of citrus plants and is a plant species from the genus Microcitrus in the rue family (Rutaceae). The plants of the caviar lime are densely leafy with rather small leaves. When the plant is young, the leaves are narrow and needle-shaped. As the plant ages, the leaves become larger and oval with rounded tips. This lime has a short but very sharp thorn in the leaf axils. The flowers are very small, four to fivefold, with four to eight segments in the ovary and bloom white with a pink center. The scent of the flowers and fruits is not quite as aromatic as with otherstypes of lime, but the content of the fruit is all the more convincing. When bursting, the lime caviar releases an intense and unique aroma.
Caviar lime: a colorful variety
The finger lime is available in many different varieties. Their skins and flesh vary in color and the fruits can be oblong to spherical. Below we present a selection of different types of caviar lime.
- 'Polpa Gallia': The fruits of the finger lime 'Polpa Gialla' show a green skin and yellow flesh.
- 'Virgata': The ripe fruits of this variety have a yellow-green skin. They grow round, but have the typical caviar-like flesh.
- 'Byron Sunrise': The fruits of this caviar lime variety have a maroon skin that turns almost black when fully ripe. The flesh is orange to red.
- 'Durham's Emerald': The fruits of this finger lime are dark purple to black. The lime caviar is emerald green inside.
- 'Jali Red': This caviar lime variety is characterized by light red to pink flesh. The skin is dark green to brown.
- 'Judy's Everbearing': The ripe fruits of have a bright pink skin. The lime caviar is also pink.
- 'Yellow': As the name suggests, the lime pearls in this variety are yellow. The skin of the fruit is green-yellow.
The variety of lime varieties is impressive. In addition to the caviar lime, there are many other special citrus fruits that you can learn more about in our special article.
Buying caviar lime: what to look out for
The first step to your own caviar lime is to buy it. Caviar limes are still a rarity and therefore quite expensive and perhaps not easy to find. However, you should be able to find what you are looking for in well-stocked and large tree nurseries and garden centers. There are also a number of retailers on the Internet who specialize in citrus rarities and offer caviar limes for delivery. We have selected the following two providers for you because of their particularly large variety of caviar limes:
- meine-orangerie.de: In the online shop of "Meine Orangerie" only citrus plants and Mediterranean plants are offered for sale. In the assortment is underamong other things, a large selection of different types of finger limes.
- zde: Citronlust offers a wide variety of Mediterranean plants for sale, from citrus plants to pine trees to exotic fruit plants. Here you will find a wide variety of caviar limes with care instructions.
But what should you look out for when buying caviar limes? You shouldn't be able to see any defects such as broken leaves or damaged bark on the plant with the naked eye. In addition, the grafting point - most caviar lime trees are grafted - should be of good quality. The choice of variety is also crucial, because the caviar lime varieties are visually very different. You should also closely inspect the he alth of the plant and make sure the sapling is free of disease or pests.
When buying caviar limes, you should pay attention to the following factors:
- Quality
- Type
- He alth status
Cultivation and location of caviar lime
All citrus plants hardly differ in cultivation and care. Once you get the hang of one type of citrus, you can't go far wrong with the others. For a detailed guide to growing and planting lime trees, see our feature article. All citrus plants are not hardy and must therefore be grown in pots.
For the finger lime, as a wild species, it likes to be outside in the summer most of all. However, it does not always have to be in full sun outdoors. The caviar lime is also satisfied with a partially shaded location in summer. But it should stand alone and not have to fight with other plants for the little light. To ensure that all sides of the plant get even sun and it grows evenly, you can rotate your caviar lime every two months. In winter, the plant then moves to the conservatory or apartment. Here it should be bright and at temperatures of 3 to 15 °C. The same applies to finger limes: the warmer it is, the lighter the special lime needs to be.
Location requirements of the caviar lime at a glance:
- Outdoors in Summer
- Sunny to semi-shady location
- Inside in winter
- Temperatures in winter: 3 to 15 °C
Caviar lime care: requirements and special features
Caring for the finger lime is also no differentsignificantly different from that of other types of lime. Since it originally comes from semi-arid desert regions, it is reasonable to assume that its water requirement is lower than that of other types of lime. Nevertheless, you should water your caviar lime regularly and never let it dry out. However, the exotic lime is very sensitive to waterlogging. So be sure to avoid these. During the main growing season, the caviar lime can be fortified once a week with a special citrus fertilizer. As an alternative to citrus fertilizer, an organic fertilizer can also be used.
Our Plantura organic universal fertilizer made from mostly plant-based raw materials and with an organic long-term effect optimally supplies your caviar lime with all the important nutrients. In winter you can greatly reduce fertilization or even stop it completely. Regular pruning is not necessary with the finger lime, but dead and diseased parts of the plant should be removed. A cut is also advisable if the plant grows very unevenly. However, this should definitely be done during the hibernation period. The caviar lime should be repotted every two years.
Care measures for caviar lime at a glance:
- Keep evenly moist
- Avoid waterlogging at all costs
- Fertilize with citrus fertilizer once a week in summer
- Cut if necessary
- Repot every two years
Use of Caviar Lime
The lime pearls of the caviar lime can be enjoyed raw and pure. But they are also ideal as a topping on various dishes, for decoration or as an optical eye-catcher and aromatic refinement in drinks. Lime caviar goes particularly well with fish dishes or as a topping on sushi. It can also be mixed into salads as a fruity component. The pearls are particularly effective in drinks: put a few pearls in a glass of Prosecco or champagne or mix the lime caviar in a wide variety of cocktails. The fruity balls are also good in desserts, for example in ice cream or on cakes.
Are you even more interested in interesting and unusual types of lime? Find out more about the special features of the kaffir lime in our special article.