Citrus limetta
| Citrus Limetta | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Genus: | Citrus |
| Species: | C. limetta |
| Binomial name | |
| Citrus limetta Risso | |
Citrus limetta is a species of citrus. A Common names for varieties of this species include sweet limetta, Mediterranean sweet lemon, sweet lemon, and sweet lime.
- In Iran it is called Limu Shirin لیمو شیرین (in Persian: Limu = Lemon and Shirin = Sweet).
- In North India, it is commonly called as mousambi, mosambi, or musambi (मुसंबी)[1] (in Hindi/Urdu & Marathi).
- In South India, it is called as Moosambi (in Kannada, Malayalam), Bathaya Kaayalu (బత్తాకాయలు) (in Telugu) and sathukudi (in Tamil).
- The Tamil name is derived from the name of a village "sattukkudi' (சாத்துக்குடி) where this fruit was cultivated first in Tamil Nadu.
Growth & Appearance
It is a small tree which may reach 8 m in height. The sweet lemon has irregular branches, and relatively smooth, brownish-grey bark. It possesses numerous thorns which may grow to anywhere from 1.5 to 7.5 cm long. The petioles of the sweet lemon are narrowly but distinctly winged, and are 8 to 29 mm long. It has leaflets rather than leaves, which are obovate and 5.5 to 17 cm long, 2.8 to 8 cm wide. The apex of the leaflet is acuminate, and the base of the leaflet is rounded. Flowers are white in bud and in bloom, ranging from 2 to 3 cm wide. The petals soon fall away, leaving the fruit to grow. The skin of the fruit is light yellow at maturity; the rind is white and about 5 mm thick. These small plants may reach up to 25 feet in height. Mosambi fruits are small green citrus fruits of round oval shape, which turns yellow on ripening. This tree grows easily in tropical and sub-tropical climates and starts bearing fruits when it’s 5 to 7 years old. The peak production occurs at the age of 10 to 20 years.
Range
It is native to South Asia and South East Asia and is cultivated in the Mediterranean region.[2] It has been introduced to other regions of the world by humans. It is propagated by seed.
Characteristics
The pulp is greenish and the juice is sweet rather than acidic. It is also referred as orange in some places of the world. Mosambi (sweet lime) juice is the most common available citrus juice in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Despite its name sweet lime it is more similar to a greenish orange (in appearance). To the Westerner's palate, the fruit may appear a bit 'bland' in comparison with western style oranges. Sweet lime is almost exclusively served as juice. Sweet lime juice is commonly sold at mobile road stalls, where it is freshly pressed, sometimes served with a salty chat masala or Kala Namak, unless the vendor is told not to add it. The fruit of the sweet lemon is edible, nutritious and its peel contains essential oils. The tree is used for ornamental purposes as well as for graft stock.[2] In Iran, it is particularly used to treat flu and cold. Despite having little acidity, the fruit has high levels of Vitamin C. The juice is used by all, especially those who are sick. It is sold all year round. Sweet lime tastes as it sounds. More specifically, the fruit is sweet but retains the same essence as a lime but without the mouth puckering qualities—it’s a sweet, mellow fruit. If limeaid could be encapsulated in a fruit, it would be this one. The flavor is a bit flatter than some citruses due to its lack of acidity, while other citruses tend to be better well rounded in their ratio of sour-acid-sweet. This type of citrus doesn’t contain the same pungency as grapefruits, nor the sharpness of oranges. Sweet limes are wholly agreeable, bearing great similarity to pith-free pomelo flesh.
Nutrition facts
Average weight of one fruit is 100 gram. One serving of this fruit contains around 43 calories and 0.3 gram of fat. This sweet lime provides 9.3 mg of carbohydrates and 0.8 gram of proteins. Being a citrus fruit, it is rich in vitamin C, providing 50 mg of vitamin C per serving. Moreover, it contributes significantly to the daily potassium requirement (2000 mg) of the body by providing about 490 mg of potassium in one serving. In addition to these, it contains copper, calcium, iron and phosphorus in smaller amounts.[3]
| Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz) | |
|---|---|
| Energy | 180 kJ (43 kcal) |
| Carbohydrates | 9.3 g |
| - Sugars | 1.7g |
| - Dietary fiber | 0.5 g |
| Fat | 0.3 g |
| Protein | 0.7-0.8 g |
| Water | 88 g |
| Vitamin C | 50 mg (60%) |
| Calcium | 40 mg (4%) |
| Iron | 0.7 mg (5%) |
| Phosphorus | 30 mg (4%) |
| Potassium | 490 mg (10%) |
| Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults. | |
Checking for Ripeness in Sweet Lime
Sweet limes are no different than most types of citrus—they will not ripen off the tree, and must be picked when fully ripe. This is indicated by its tennis ball size and lustrous greenish yellow sheen. Gently scratch the surface of a sweet lime: If its oils give way in the fingernails, it’s ripe. The juiciest fruits feel heavy for their size.[4]
Overripe sweet limes, on the other hand, are dull, shrunken, and possess dry, spongy skin. Avoid fruits with brownish yellow discoloration. Also check for premature sweet limes, which feel light for their size and are hard with tart flesh.
Storage
Sweet limes have a long shelf life at room temperature, as they keep fresh for up to two weeks. In the refrigerator, sweet limes last for four to eight weeks. It’s possible to freeze slices of the fruit, though the limonin content in sweet limes may cause the pulp to taste bitter over time. A way to avoid this is by freezing the fruit in a “wet pack,” which is submerging the slices in sweet syrup within an airtight glass jar. Or, make orange juice and freeze the liquid. Frozen juice will keep for up to six months, though it’s best to check the fruit periodically to ensure it doesn’t grow sour.