Caviar lime (finger lime) – fresh and dried

Description

Finger limes are as intriguing as they are delicious. They are packed with caviar-type globes of citrus goodness, that pop satisfyingly in the mouth.

The Australian finger lime plant, is a small tree of lowland subtropical rainforest. It has edible fruits which are under development as a potential new widespread commercial crop due to demand from catering professionals who require gourmet ingredients for their fine dining food and drink menus.

The fruit is cylindrical, 4–8 cm long, sometimes slightly curved, coming in different colours, including pink, red and green.

The globular juice vesicles have been likened to a “lime caviar”. The fresh vesicles have the effect of a burst of effervescent tangy flavour as they are chewed. The fruit juice is acidic and similar to that of a lime. Marmalade and pickles are also made from finger lime. The finger lime peel can be dried and used as a flavouring spice.

Commercial use of finger lime fruit started in the mid-1990s in boutique marmalades made from wild harvested fruit.