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Posted

While shopping in a local Pakistani food store I came across an unusual citrus fruit. It was bright green, like a lime and of a similar circumference to Key lime, however, the fruit was very elongated, almost tubular. Some of the bigger fruit were10-12 cm long.

I asked what the fruit were and I was just told "limes". Well limes they may be, but they are not the usual Key or Tahitian limes that I have seen before. On cutting the fruit it looked very similar to a regular round lime, the aroma and flavour were very similar to a regular lime as well, with slightly more of a lemony edge then in a normal lime.

They were excellent in a G&T and I will maintain my supplies of them for this reason. Does anybody know anything about them or what they may be used for in more traditional cooking? Are they limes/lemons or anoter citrus entirely?

Posted

Now these were down-under ? Next time could you ask them the native name of the fruit ?

I'm kind of at a loss; since it could be a strain of lime which probably grows in the tropical islands.

anil

Posted

indiagirl - G&T = Gin and [indian] Tonic [water]. Ever heard of it? It is a really good drink :smile: .

I trudged around most of the Pakistani/Indian food shops in Edinburgh, until I found another store which sold these citrus. When I finally found another store I asked the owner what they were called he said "Limon". So it equally could be a strange lemon, which makes more sense given the source of the fruit and the hugh variation in lemon/citron shapes etc (anybody seen Bimbi's painting of the Medici lemon/citron collection?).

Posted
indiagirl - G&T = Gin and [indian] Tonic [water]. Ever heard of it? It is a really good drink :smile: .

Gin and Tonic? Hmmmm. that sounds vaguely familiar ........ have I ever had that before? It sounds like something I could spend many an evening drinking - sitting outside on the shady verandah in an easy chair. ......

Posted
Gin and Tonic? Hmmmm. that sounds vaguely familiar ........ have I ever had that before? It sounds like something I could spend many an evening drinking - sitting outside on the shady verandah in an easy chair. ......

indiagirl..you have such amazing instincts! how did you know that a shady verandah is the perfect place to drink a gin & tonic?

Lobster.

Posted

could be the colonial influence that has slowly seeped into my genes over the centuries.

or

it could be the country club a five minute drive from my house in hyderabad where i spent many lovely evenings.

:)

  • 4 months later...
Posted

Strange citrus has been Identified.

I have seen the grown-up versions. They are about 20-25 cm long and 10-15 cm wide. In cross section they resemble a lemon with a very thick peel. The juice is not very plentiful and is not as sour as a lemon. The zest smells is similar to a lemon, with a herbal note. When cooked the flavour of the zest is quite different to that of a lemon.

This pretty much nails the identifiaction as a Citron/Cedro. Same species as the lemon, different sub-species though.

Posted (edited)

Adam Balic,

It could be a genetically engineered hybrid as well. Can you ask what country they are originating from?

Edited by mudbug (log)
Posted

Citrus are typically difficult to genetically manipulate and Citrons have existed for hundreds of years (if not longer) in cultivation. I also recognise the flavour of the rind. So I pretty sure it is 'natural'.

Plus who would want to develop a giant lemon that is all pith and no juice? :biggrin:

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