Eden

Penang Botanic Gardens Plant Collection

Citrus hystrix DC. (RUTACEAE)

Posted at — Nov 13, 2019
Kaffir Lime, Limau Purut

Description

Shurb to small tree 6-15 m tall, armed with long spines on the stems. Leaves dark green, smooth glossy, hourglass-shaped (2 ovate blades fused end to end), strongly aromatic, 6-10 cm long. Fruits round to egg-shaped, about 4 cm wide, very wrinkled and bumpy texture, dark green eventually turning yellow, juice sour and slightly bitter.

Distribution

S China. Widely planted throughout SE Asia.

Uses

The leaves have a strong lemon flavour often added to dishes such as curries, soup and a flavour to salads and other dishes. Rind from the fruits are used in curry paste adding a strong and astrigent flavour.