The word “lime” literally means “little lime” and indicates the close relationship between small limes and larger lemons. Until a few years ago, the terms “lime” and “lime” were used synonymously in Germany, but this led to confusion. In many other countries around the world, “lime” is the name for our “lemon”, by the way, in Latin it is “Citrus limon”.
What are the differences between limes and lemons?
The main differences between limes and lemons lie in their size, color, flavor and uses: limes are smaller, greener, more acidic and common in cocktails, while lemons are larger, yellow, slightly sweeter and more versatile in cooking. However, both are rich in vitamin C and in the citrus family.
Sophisticated lime
The small, green fruits of the Mexican lime (Citrus aurantiifolia) can usually be found in German supermarkets. This is also known as “Bartender Lime” because its juice is often used in cocktails. However, there are also a number of other types of lime that are indispensable as a spice or juice in many dishes, especially in Southeast Asian countries as well as in the Caribbean and the USA. In general, limes are more sensitive than lemons and – unlike lemons – cannot tolerate any winter temperatures. Therefore, the care of this plant, which comes from the tropics and subtropics, is more complicated than that of other citrus species.
Different types of lime
Lemons are usually noticeable because of their bright yellow peel when ripe, and the fist-sized berries are significantly larger than those of a lime. Lemons are also shaped differently: Limes are usually round and have a smooth skin, while lemons have a more elongated oval shape and are rougher. There are different types of lime, some of which are little or not at all known in Germany. Some of the fruits can also take on a yellow to orange-yellow color. At this point the three most famous varieties will be introduced.
Mexican lime (Citrus aurantiifolia)
The “Bartender Lime” grows as a small, heavily branched and thorny bush with delicate branches. The flower buds are slightly purple when exposed to strong sunlight. The leaf is dull green and about the size of a tangerine leaf. The variety is very sensitive to cold and difficult to hibernate. The small fruits are very thin-skinned, juicy, light green to pale yellow and rich in seeds.
Persian lime (Citrus latifolia)
This variety is almost as robust as lemons and is almost always seedless due to the sterility of the ovules (i.e. the Persian lime cannot be grown from seed!). The Persian lime produces many aromatic fruits every year and has a much shorter ripening time than lemons. The berries are harvested between March and December.
Kaffir lime (Citrus hystrix)
This is a tropical species that is very suitable for the winter garden as well as for greenhouse and indoor cultivation. The shrub bears small, green-yellow to yellow-skinned fruits with a diameter of approximately six centimeters. These have a very wavy, wrinkled shell when ripe. The flesh is green.
Tips & Tricks
Especially in Thailand, the leaves of the Kaffir lime are used as a spice, similar to bay leaves. Although they can be cooked (especially in stews), they cannot be eaten.
