Hubby brought home some finger limes yesterday. He pulled them off a very scrawny looking tree on our farm. He discovered them about a year ago and he brought them to my attention, but I wasn't very interested. Today however, is a different day. Whilst reading "The Land", he spotted a very interesting article and he promptly sent me an email. The link is here if you'd like to read about the exciting news. The finger lime has received the Fruit Logistica Innovation Award.
The article says "Limeburst Fingerlimes was awarded the top gong at Fruit Logistica in Berlin, the largest fruit and vegetable trade show on the planet." Apparently it's the first time the award has gone to a non-European nation. According to Hubby, this is BIG. The Limeburst Company is set to make squillions. Good on you Aussies! Hooray.
I wondered what could I do with this strange new fruit. A quick search and I see the word 'marmalade'. Drawn like a magnet to the words jam, jelly or marmalade I checked out a couple of sites. I see a company based in Byron Bay that makes finger lime marmalade. Jeepers. The jars look lovely, but... One jar cost $3.50 and it was only 40gm. I wonder if that price was determined before or after the award!
Yep. You guessed it. Finger lime marmalade is definitely on my agenda. The ones Hubby brought home were too small. They get bigger, but they are still only the size of a finger, so not that much bigger. I'm going to do some more exploring.
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| The Farm - one year ago |
I love finger limes. We use them all the time. The little caviar bubbles of lime juice are such a nice variation on plain lime juice. Great in marinades, really good in salad dressing, fantastic even just in water.
ReplyDeleteNice to meet you Linda. Yes, when I squeezed them, the little caviar balls popped out and they actually make a crunchy sound in the mouth. Such a surprise. Your ideas are fantastic. Thank you so much. I use limes and lemons all the time in marinades and dressings and water too.
ReplyDeleteThese look amazing. I have not seen these before or heard of them. We use regular limes in a lime tart which is delicious.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.abc.net.au/local/recipes/2007/03/08/1866127.htm
Make sure to use whipping cream not thickened cream.
Can't wait to see the results of your marmalade making.
Until a year ago, I hadn't heard of them either Bruise Mouse. I can't wait to go to the farm to check the tree out again. It's a really ugly, scruby kind of a tree that looks like it's been there for a hundred years. Who knows.
ReplyDeleteI won't be making the marmalade yet. The finger limes need to be bigger than those pictured. Gee. I haven't been this excited since the lilly pilly escapades. By the way Bruise Mouse - how's your lilly pilly efforts going. I'd love to know. Mariana
I recently discovered these little beauties at some farmers markets. I love how the little balls burts in your mouth when you squish them.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to know how you go with making marmalade from them down the track. You're very lucky to have a whole tree of them.
I'm not sure that they will get bigger - hard to get the scale from the picture, but they're small - finger sized - and they're in season now.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious to know what you did with your finger limes cityhippyfarmgirl. Sounds to me like you simply ate them whole. I haven't been to revisit the tree, so I can't say what's on there yet. I don't recall a "whole" tree, that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteThanks for popping back Linda. I know. I probably should of placed a spoon beside them. They're really little. About the size of half my little finger. Does that sound right? I thought for sure they'd be bigger than that. If you say they're in season right now, then perhaps that's it for their growth. They certainly taste tangy and zesty enough - not like they need more time to ripen. I appreciate you pointing this out to me. Thanks again. Mariana.
Ive never seen or heard of these limes! Very unique. When you described the 'caviar balls' and how they burst in your mouth it reminded me instantly of Pomelos. Have you seen pomelos? They are huge almost like a footballs and are of teh citrus family and the flesh is pinkish, quite like grapefruit. And their 'caviar balls' burst in your mouth as well. SO refreshing... Very lovely and we use it to make a salad.
ReplyDeleteBut of course these limes are far too tiny to be used as such. Marmalade sounds much better and good! Cant wait to see how you make marmalade! :)
I just took a look at some pics on the net Zurin. Nothing like these little babies. Although, pomelos do look very pretty I must say. Thanks for bringing pomelos to my attention as it would appear I've brought finger limes to your attention. Don't you love that about blogging. Always something new to learn. Don't hold your breath about the marmalade Zurin. I just found out from Hubby that there are no more on the tree!!!! What a let down. Just when I was getting excited. Oh well. Have a good weekend dear. Mariana xxxxx
ReplyDeleteOh bursts, I meant bursts not burts. I was flicking the little balls into my mouth, just for the novelty factor. I also put them over a salad, and I think I did a fish dish?...
ReplyDeleteThe ones I had bought were about the size of a finger.
oooh oooh, I know these! I spent a wonderful afternoon with them bursting in endless glasses of champagne!! From memory they came in several different colours, although now that I think about it, that could be my champagne-memory.. ;-)
ReplyDeleteWhether it burts or bursts - it's a wonderful mouth sensation cityhippyfarmgirl
ReplyDeleteSeveral different colours Celia. Really? I only saw a green and a pink. Would love to see what other colours they can be.
Here you go, Mariana! I had to check whether my alcohol-fuzzied memory was correct! ;-)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.fingerlimes.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27&Itemid=53
Thanks for the link Celia. Just checked it out and yes, you are right. I'd love to see a yellow and purple finger lime. Imagine those little balls nestling or draping over a piece of fish or even a dessert. What a magnificent garnish. Not to mention zesty taste. Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteYou've all just discovered the BEST lime in the world. We've been growing and using them in our native food business for nearly 10years and they still amaze us! we make a finger lime marmalade which we call "Pink Zinger" 'cause we use the pink finger limes to make it, and it is wonderfully ZINGY. We won a gold medal for this product at Sydney Royal Fine Foods Show - it's not hard to make a great marmalade with these little beauties. They do get much larger though - up to 12cm. It's been a great season (our last pick last week) and we have freezers full to keep making product (cordial too)and sell to restaurants throughout the off season. I sell them every week when in season at the Mullumbimby farmers' market - probably my last week of fresh supply this Friday. Check out our web-site - www.playingwithfire.com.au
ReplyDeleteWow, that's fascinating, Mariana - weirdly fascinating! I assume this is a recently developed cultivar, but how did it get on your farm? (I thought at first it was a wild tree)
ReplyDeleteVery interesting - never seen anything like that.
I don't know how it came to be on our farm drfugawe. It's a very skinny, shruby looking tree - personally it doesn't seem right to call it a tree - more of a bushy thingy. It looks ancient and it may well be. I know the farm next door has a historical Aboriginal bora ring site. The tree may well have been used by aboriginals, - we have quite a few native wildfood trees - and some yet to discover I suspect.
ReplyDeleteThey are a native australian plant so you may have just been lucky to have one naturally growing?
ReplyDelete