Are you wondering about the different types of limes? Well, if you are, then you have come to the right place.
Lime is a kind of citrus fruit that you will be able to easily find in the kitchen. This citrus fruit usually has green skin with a tad hint of yellow. You also probably know that limes taste pretty acidic and kind of similar to lemons, with only a slight difference in the flavor and scent.
A lot of people use limes for culinary purposes. This kind of fruit is used in a lot of cuisines from all over the world. People use lime juice and its zest to create a lovely lime pie. You will also be able to find a lot of people using lime rinds to garnish and infuse vinegar and oils. A lot of Thai, Vietnamese, and Mexican cuisines use lime juice to add that extra flavor to the dish.
What you might not know about limes is the fact that they are thought to come from Indonesia. After a while, this acidic citrus fruit became quite popular in a lot of Mediterranean countries. You will also be able to find this fruit in Mexico, the United States, India, and China. You will be able to find a lot of lime trees all around those countries.
Different Types of Limes
Another thing that you might not know is that there are several different types of citrus fruit. You will be able to find a lot of varieties when it comes to limes. Some of the popular types of this fruit are Mexican limes, Tahiti limes, Key limes, and Bearss limes.
However, those are not the only lime variety that you will be able to find. Luckily for you, that is exactly what we are going to talk about in this article. Keep reading to find out more about the different kinds of lime that you will be able to use for cooking purposes.
1. Key Lime
The first and most common type of lime that we are going to talk about is Key limes. Key limes are also known as Mexican limes. You probably have seen this type of lime somewhere before. Why? Well, simply because this kind of citrus fruit is very often used in a lot of dishes.
Key limes are small round limes that taste very acidic. The acidic flavor in this type of lime is very strong. This is because they also have a very high acid content. Other than that, Key limes also have a strong acidic aroma that you will be able to recognize anywhere.
What differentiates this type of lime from other limes is its small size. Other than that, Key limes also have more yellow skin. This type of lime grows in places with hot climates. They are usually harvested from the tree while the color is still green. After a while, they will become ripe and the flavor will intensify.
Another unique thing about this lime is the fact that it has several seeds. Key limes also have a lot of juice that you can use for cooking, baking, or even making cocktails. They are the main ingredient that people use to make Key lime pie. That is why this is one of the most popular types of limes.
2. Tahiti Lime
The next type of lime that we are going to tell you all about is the Tahiti limes. Now, this is the type of lime that you will probably see in your local supermarket. The Tahiti lime is a type of Persian lime that you can easily find in every supermarket. As the name suggests, this kind of lime came from the island of Tahiti.
There are several unique things that you will be able to see in this lime. First of all, it is a lime variety that has an oblong shape instead of a round shape. This differentiates the Tahiti lime from any other type of lime. Other than that, this lime is also seedless, making it easy for you to juice it.
Unlike Key limes, Tahiti limes are not intensely acidic. They have juicy flesh that does not taste as acidic as Key limes. Other than that, this type of lime is also larger than Key limes. Once matured, Tahiti limes will have a yellow-green color. However, supermarkets usually sell these limes when they are still deep green. This is because they taste better then.
3. Bearss Lime
The Bearss limes are another type of Persian lime that you need to know about. However, it is not surprising if you already knew about this type of lime. Why? Well, simply because this citrus fruit is one of the most popular varieties of limes that you will be able to find all around the world.
Just like Tahiti limes, Bearss limes are also bigger than Key limes. The shape of this kind of lime is oval. You will also find that Bearss limes are less acidic than Key limes. So, if you prefer a less acidic taste in your dish, you might consider using this type of lime. Bearss limes are also not as bitter as Key limes, which is another distinctive feature of this type of lime.
The skin of Bearss limes is green in color. However, as they are ripe, the color of the skin will change into a more yellow-green than green. Another distinctive feature that this lime has is the fact that it has very thick skin. This type of lime is also a seedless lime, just like Tahiti limes. You can store Bearss lime for quite a while since this lime has a longer shelf life than other kinds of lime.
4. Kafir Lime
Next up, let’s talk about Kafir limes. You will be able to find this type of citrus fruit in Southeast Asian cuisines. In these cuisines, people usually use the aromatic rind or the leaves of the Kafir limes instead of the lime juice itself. However, the juice of Kafir limes is also very multifunctional. That is why a lot of people use this type of lime.
Because the juice of Kafir limes are so acidic, these limes are also used for other things aside from cooking. A lot of people use the juice of this type of lime for cleaning purposes. Other than that, the juice can also remove stains. You can also use Kafir lime juice as a shampoo. That is what makes this kind of lime very multifunctional.
Kafir limes are pretty unique compared to other limes. The shape of this type of lime is round. However, these limes have a bumpy surface. The color of the skin is green but will turn yellow as the fruit ripens. You will also be able to find only a little juice in Kafir limes. The juice is very bitter since the acid content is pretty high. This is why people usually use only the zest or leaves for cooking.
Related: 20 Types of Citrus Fruits Most Common and Powerful taste
5. Australian Finger Lime
The Australian Finger limes are another popular type of lime that you will be able to find. This type of lime is also known as the caviar of the citrus. This unique nickname is given to this lime because of its texture. The Australian Finger limes have a caviar-like texture. That is partly why this lime is very popular.
You will be able to find these limes growing in the rainforests of South East Queensland and New South Wales. This type of lime is also used in so many dishes. The Australian Finger limes go very well with a lot of cuisines. They can be used in either savory and sweet dishes. You can even use this kind of lime to garnish a lot of seafood such as sushi, oysters, or seared scallops.
These types of lime is used a lot in cooking because of its delicious flavor. It has a unique lemon-lime flavor with herbaceous undertones, allowing this lime to be very suitable for cooking. Another unique thing about this lime is the fact that it does not have any seeds. That is why you will be able to juice this lime very easily.
When you pay attention to the appearance of the Australian Finger limes, you will be able to see that this fruit does not look like a typical lime. The shape of this citrus fruit is cylindrical. This kind of lime also has very bumpy skin. The color of this lime is pretty basic, which is lime-green. However, the flavor of this lime is very delicious and refreshing.
6. Blood Lime
A very unique types of limes that you probably have never heard of is the blood lime. Blood limes are very unique and eye-catching. Why? Well, simply because of their unusual red color. Other than that, the taste of this type of lime is sweet and tangy. That is why it is one of the most unique types of limes that you will be able to find.
Blood limes are lime hybrids that were first developed in Australia. What makes this type of lime unique is its appearance. You will be able to see the blood-red color on the skin of this citrus fruit. Other than that, these limes are also smaller compared to other kinds of lime. Blood limes also taste sweet, which is not the kind of taste that you would expect from limes.
7. Kalamansi Lime
The next type of lime that you should know about is the Kalamansi lime. This is a type of citrus fruit that you will be able to find in a lot of Philippine dishes. You will be able to see that this type of lime is very small. However, the shape of Kalamansi limes is not the only distinctive feature of these citrus fruits.
Kalamansi limes have a green skin color. However, once you open it up, you will be able to see orange flesh. The taste of these limes is quite sour. However, as they ripen, they can taste pretty sweet. Kalamansi limes look like small tangerines when they are fully ripe. That is why they are pretty unique.
Another distinctive feature of these types of limes is its thin skin. Because of this, Kalamansi limes do not transport or store as well as you might hope. Other than that, it will take around a full year for this type of lime to fully ripen. That is why a lot of people use these limes as an ornamental instead of using them for cooking. They can become quite a beautiful house decoration.
8. Rangpur Lime
Up next, we have Rangpur limes. This is another hybrid lime that you will be able to use for cooking. Rangpur limes are a crossing between the mandarin orange and a citron fruit. Some people even say that this type of lime is a kind of Indian Mandarin lime.
A unique thing about Rangpur limes is the fact that they look like small oranges. However, they have an acidic taste that is similar to other traditional limes. Because of their appearance, this type of lime is considered a very exotic lime.
The most common use of this lime is to make marmalade. A lot of people prefer using Rangpur limes to make marmalade rather than Seville oranges. This is because Rangpur limes are very juicy. They also taste very tart and acidic. Because of this acidic juice, Rangpur limes also smell like other traditional limes.
9. Limequats
The last types of limes on our list is the limequats. Limequats are bitter-sweet limes that have a kind of sweet skin. They are called limequats because they are a crossing between Key limes and kumquats. You will be able to find limequats in a lot of regions such as Spain, Japan, the United States, Malaysia, and Israel.
This type of limes is pretty small. They also have green skin that becomes yellow as they ripen. Limequats even look more like lemons when they are fully ripe. However, the flesh of this lime tastes like a regular lime. That is why this lime is one of the most unique types of limes that you will encounter.
What is the Most Common Types of Limes?
The most common types of limes is called a Key lime, which is the only variety that doesn’t require heat treatment. The key lime is a popular choice for lime pickles, jellies, and sauces. The other main types of limes include Persian, Tahiti, and Tahitian.
Lime is an essential part of citrus fruit. It gives them their sour taste and a tangy flavor. Lime juice is used to make drinks like lemonade, teas, sodas, and cocktails.
Conclusion
In conclusion, lime fruits, depending on the variety, have different flavors, such as tangy, sour, bitter, sweet, or a combination of the aforementioned. A lime is a member of the Citrus family and is native to Mexico, Central America, and South America.
Types of limes fruit has many uses, such as in cooking, drinks, and medicine.
Lime trees are very tolerant of drought and pests and are usually planted in a large garden or landscaped area.