Kafir Lime

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Kafir lime (lat. Citrus hystrix) - fruit crop, which is a representative of the Rutovye family.

Description

Kafir lime is a plant whose fruits are about the size of a medium lemon. All of them are covered with a very lumpy dark green skin.

Where grows

Kafir lime is a plant native to Southeast Asia (Thailand, as well as Laos, Malaysia and Indonesia). By the way, there he is often called a makroot.

Application

Fresh fruits of kafir lime are considered unsuitable for consumption - despite the fact that they have a very pronounced citrus aroma, they are very tough and sour. It is for these properties that the culture received such a peculiar name, which is translated into Russian as "wrong lime". And the local population with great pleasure sells such fruits in the markets to numerous tourists who do not have the slightest idea about their real food and taste qualities. And if tourists decide to taste this fruit, then a burning sensation in their mouth will be guaranteed - both the peel and the film surrounding the pulp contain a huge amount of essential oils.

However, despite the hardness and very sour taste, the fruits of kafir-lime are actively used in the confectionery industry - they are used to prepare excellent tonic drinks and high-quality natural flavors.

Kafir-lime leaves are no less valuable - in crushed form (both dried and fresh) they are widely used as a seasoning in cooking. They are also a great addition to tea, giving it an amazing lemon aroma. The peel is sometimes used for the same purposes, but in any case it is valued much less than the leaves.

Both the leaves and the peel of kafir lime are often used in the culinary arts of the countries where this attractive fruit is grown - they can often be found in Thai cuisine, as well as in the cuisine of Malaysia, Indonesia and Burma. There are even special recipes for making spicy soups based on leaves and fruits of kafir lime. The leaves emphasize the aroma of rice dishes and all kinds of seafood especially well, and the zest is often added to freshly made curry pastes.

In many Asian countries, you can always find on sale not only fruits, but also leaves of this unusual culture. Fresh, they can last for only a few days, and frozen they can be stored indefinitely. Sometimes the leaves are sold in hermetically sealed containers - this approach allows them to retain their aroma for several days. Dried leaves are also sold - at home they are used by analogy with the usual bay leaf, that is, dried leaves of kafir lime are actively added to marinades.

Like all other citrus fruits, kafir-lime is an excellent source of vitamin C. The drinks prepared on its basis perfectly help to normalize blood pressure, and are also endowed with a pronounced antispasmodic and choleretic effect. And the fruits with leaves have gained fame as an excellent fortifying agent - this is due to the presence in them of a huge amount of antioxidants that help cleanse the body of toxins accumulating in it and rejuvenate it. Among other things, they are endowed with the ability to have a slight analgesic effect and tone digestion.

Local peoples often use a decoction from the leaves of this culture to treat hair and scalp - for them this is a real find. It works especially well for oily hair prone to dandruff and hair loss. This broth also has pronounced antibacterial properties, thanks to which you can get rid of irritation and itching.

I also found kafir-lime in aromatherapy - it is an excellent remedy for anxiety, stress and insomnia.

Contraindications

Kafir lime should not be eaten by women who are in the early stages of pregnancy.