Limes

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For the trade, the most important variety of this fruit is the so-called 'Persian Lime", a natural cross between the Mexican lime and a variety of lemon. Main growers today are Brazil, the US and Mexico.

Description:

Lime trees grow to 4-6 metres high and grow round-ovoid fruits 4-6cm in size. The skin is smooth, fine-grained and very thin. The dark green colour of the early stage changes to light green to pale yellow during the ripening process. The pulp of the lime is very juicy and mostly seedless. Juice content is up to 56% which is nearly double the juice content of a lemon. Depending on the ripening stage, the taste may be acidic to mild, but significantly milder than a lemon, and with a very fruity aroma.

Marketing :

Limes are available year round. However, they have much poorer storage capability than lemons. The thin skin quickly loses its water content and begins to shrink. At a temperature of 10 – 12° C and arelative humidity of 90%, it can be stored for 3 to 4 weeks.

Use:

Limes are becoming more popular being considered "mild lemons" and are used in the kitchen more frequently for cooking. A dash of lime simply must be added to a papaya. And the Brazilian national beverage, the Caipirinha, which is becoming increasingly popular in our own country, would not exist without limes.