- Lime: origin and properties
- Types and varieties
- Harvest: when are limes ripe?
- Storing and Preserving Limes
- How he althy are limes?
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The citrus fruit not only inspires in cocktails, but also in cooking. There are many different types of lime - with different growth and taste of the fruit.
The small fruits, usually green when sold, which are colloquially simply called limes, include several species of the citrus fruit genus. The limes grown for the German market mainly in Mexico, Brazil and Spain are called Persian limes or Tahiti limes (Citrus x latifolia). The real lime or Mexican lime (Citrus x aurantiifolia) is also rarely found. In this article you can find out where the lime originally comes from, which different varieties there are and what the differences are between lemons and limes.
Lime: origin and properties
All types of lime trees belong to the genus of citrus plants (Citrus) in the rue family (Rutaceae) - just like the lemon tree (Citrus x limon ) and the orange (Citrus sinensis). The Persian lime (Citrus x latifolia) is believed to have originated in what is now Iran and Iraq and has been cultivated in many subtropical and tropical regions of the world for centuries. Lime tree growth varies by species, with the most commonly cultivated lime being the Persian lime (Citrus x latifolia), as well as the Mexican lime (Citrus x aurantiifolia ) growing evergreen. In our latitudes, however, they are forced to enter a dormant phase due to a lack of light and heat in order to save resources. This can lead to leaf discoloration or leaf loss. The lime tree reaches a size of up to 6 m in its natural habitat. In our latitudes, limes only grow to a height of 2 to a maximum of 3 m as a container plant. The sour lime grows more compactly and densely than the Persian lime and is therefore a little easier to handle as a pot plant.
Lime Leaves and Fruit
The green, rather hard-leaved leaves are 6 to 8cm long and oval shaped. The botanical name latifolia roughly translates to "broad-leaved," which definitely applies to the Persian lime. The sour lime has - matching the species name aurantiifolia - leaves that resemble those of the orange.
Both the leaves and the fruit are different depending on the species. There are fruits that only grow as big as a ping-pong ball, and other types where the limes are almost the size of a lemon. The fruits must be harvested when they are ripe because, like all citrus fruits, they are not climacteric, i.e. they do not ripen later. With us, the fruits often turn yellowish-green due to temperature fluctuations. The flesh is usually pale green, but can also turn orange depending on the species. The number of lime seeds also varies in different species: the Persian lime (Citrus x latifolia) in contrast to the Mexican lime (Citrus x aurantiifolia) largely seedless.
The fragrant flowers of the lime appear in the early summer months and are usually creamy white. They can also turn slightly purple in strong sunlight.
What is the difference between limes and limes?
Limone and Limette sound similar - however, Limone is a synonym for the word "Zitrone" (Citrus x limon), which is more commonly used in German. After all, the botanical name suggests that in other countries the lemon is referred to as lime - for example in Italy. Let's look at the differences between limes and lemons.
What is the difference between lemons and limes?
In contrast to its big sister, the lemon, the ripe fruit of the lime is green. Limes and lemons both predate citron (Citrus medica) and each have a different parent, so they're sort of half-siblings. The Persian lime, in turn, was created by crossing the lemon again - it therefore has more characteristics of a lemon than the sour lime. Depending on the variety and growing conditions, the lime can also have a yellow tinge, but it only turns completely yellow when it is overripe. This is arguably the easiest distinguishing feature of the two citrus fruits. Lemons are typically oval with a distinct "nose" while limes are round.
Despite the difference in size, the lime tends to contain more juice and also has a spicier aroma thanthe lemon. Because of its high juice content, the lime is also used more frequently for juice and syrup production than the lemon. The two fruits have about the same amount of vitamin C, the lemon contains about twice as much potassium as the lime. Most types of lime are much more sensitive to cold than lemons and their fruit does not keep quite as long.
What is the difference between lemons and limes?
- Lemons are oval, limes are more round
- Limes stay smaller
- Lemons are yellow, limes are green
- Limes have more juice
- Lemons contain about twice as much potassium
- Limes taste spicier
- Lemons keep longer
You can find more special citrus fruits in our special article.
Types and varieties
In addition to the Persian lime, there are many other types of lime. Here is an overview of the types of lime:
- Tahiti or Persian lime (Citrus latifolia): Relatively easy to care for, similar requirements to lemons and oranges; strikingly wide leaves; Fruits somewhat oval.
- True, Sour or Mexican Lime (Citrus x aurantiifolia): The Latin name Citrus x aurantiifolia, means "citrus with the golden leaf"; the fruit is slightly smaller and contains many seeds; the lime tree grows heavily branched and not quite as tall as the Persian lime.
- Rangpurlimette (Citrus limonia): This type is also called tangerine lime because it has a green skin but orange flesh.
- Palestine or Indian lime (Citrus limettoides): Robust and easy to care for, similar to the Persian lime.
- Kaffir lime (Citrus hystrix): Known for using the leaves in Thai cuisine.
- Pursha or Roman Lime (Citrus limetta x Citrus sinensis): Will also called the sweet lime because its acidity is milderthan other types of lime.
- Caviar or Australian Finger Lime (Microcitrus australasica): This species bears finger-shaped fruits that hide caviar-like pulp.
Unfortunately, many of the types of lime mentioned cannot be bought in grocery stores. If you would still like to try a Rangpur or caviar lime, you can pull it yourself. But beware: citrus plants have very specific requirements when it comes to their cultivation conditions and nutrient supply. To ensure the perfect supply, you need a special citrus fertilizer such as our Plantura Organic Citrus & Mediterranean Fertilizer. It is easy to apply using a watering application. You can read about how lemons, limes, oranges and tangerines are grown in our magazine.
Harvest: when are limes ripe?
Harvest time for limes is in late autumn, sometimes not until winter. In their natural habitat, the lime can be harvested all year round. When the fruit softens and the skin turns a little lighter, you can harvest your limes. Only in the tropics, when the temperatures remain the same, does the peel of the lime stay green until it is fully ripe. With us, the shell turns light green to yellow due to the low nighttime temperatures.
Storing and Preserving Limes
After harvesting, the fruits should be thoroughly cleaned and dirt removed. You can store limes at around 10 °C for the longest time, for example in the garage or in the cellar. If stored correctly, the limes can be kept for up to four weeks.
How he althy are limes?
Limes are considered very he althy. They contain a wide variety of minerals - including potassium, phosphate and calcium. Antioxidant flavonoids, carotenoids, trace elements and vitamins A, C and E are also represented.
Is lime peel poisonous?
No, the lime peel itself is not poisonous. However, you should not do without thorough washing of the fruit. Because pesticides are also used to increase shelf life, it is best to only use organic limes. You can use the lime zest like lemon zest. You can also use it to make lime s alt, lime oil, or even liqueur.
You can also grow limes here - you can find out how to do this and what you need to watch out for in our article Planting, caring for and overwintering lime trees.