Finger limes are a small tiny citrus fruit that is found in Australia. The name comes from their shape where they are about the size of a finger and grow up to 3 inches long.
The peel can come in a variety of colors include light and dark green and light and dark yellow.
The pulp, better known as juice vesicles, look like tiny little balls, almost the way caviar looks.
Finger limes are hard to find but you can find them in a specialty grocery store or online.
Are there different types of finger limes?
Yes, a study published in the journal Phytochemistry suggests there are at least 3 varieties of finger limes.
Here is what they found
– The peel of Alstonville was greener, more terpenic (myrcene-like, sabinene-like) and slightly minty. A clear citronellal-like character reminiscent of citronella was found in the peel of Judy’s Everbearing.
– The juice of these cultivars was less unique, being acidic and in-between lemon and lime juice with the following nuances: bitter and slightly resinous for Alstonville, green and citronellal-like for Judy’s Everbearing, and citronellal-like with turpentine and vegetable notes for Durham’s Emerald.
– The compounds of the three finger lime varieties were quite different.
– The three peel extracts had in common a surprisingly low amount of γ-terpinene (0.10%), α-pinene (<1.00%), β-pinene (<0.40%), neral (<0.01%) and geranial (<0.01%), which are generally the major volatile constituents of lime peel extracts besides limonene
Here is what the authors had to say
This study on three cultivars shows that these distinctive observed characteristics are also observed on the molecular level.
and
Indeed, the analytical data obtained during this work showed that the three cultivars possess unique chemical compositions with unusual ratios of major volatile metabolites: limonene/sabinene in cv. Alstonville, limonene/citronellal/isomenthone in cv. Judy’s Everbearing and limonene/citronellal/citronellol in cv.
Read here about fruit and the research and clinical studies that they have been tested in.
Take away message:
This study published in the journal of Phytochemistry has found that the variety of finger lime peel will produce a different fragrance and phytochemical content. In reality this should not be surprising given that the color can vary between varieties.
It is well known that the antioxidants in fruit will contribute to the color and smell of different fruits.
Reference
Delort et al. Comparative analysis of three Australian finger lime (Citrus australasica) cultivars: identification of unique citrus chemotypes and new volatile molecules. Phytochemistry. 2015; Volume 109: pages 111-24.
His research on plant medicine has led to more than 45 publications and abstracts.This research has been presented at international meetings in the USA, France, Turkey, Peru, Israel, Austria, and Italy.
Categories: Antioxidant, Ask the Pharmacist, Food