Kaffir lime

Description

The kaffir lime is a wonderfully aromatic citrus fruit native to tropical Asia, including India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and The Philippines.

The fruit and leaves emit an intense citrus fragrance which has made them them popular in Southeast Asian cuisine.

The peel is commonly used in Lao and Thai curry cuisine, adding an aromatic, astringent flavour. The zest of the kaffir lime, referred to as combava, is also used in creole cuisine to impart flavour in infused rums and rougails in Martinique, Réunion and Madagascar.

In Cambodia, the entire fruit is crystallised/candied for eating.

Its essential oil is used in perfumery.