Lime is a citrus fruit with a high level of vitamin C, antioxidants, and some other nutrients that help boost immunity and prevent health issues like kidney stones and heart disease. Its fruits have a similar taste to lemon but are more acidic with a minor difference in flavor.
Type of Lime Fruit That Grows in Hong Kong.
There is a variety of lime fruits commonly found in Hong Kong. They include:
- Key limes
They are smaller, more aromatic, and more acidic limes. They are usually picked while still green and later becomes yellow while ripe; it is the most popular type of lime in Hong Kong.
- Bearss lime
They are seedless lime with a strong lime flavour; it has a very short tree in which the fruit is produced.
- Tahiti limes
They are large fruit of about 4 to 6 centimeter in diameter; they belong to the Rutaceae family. Tahiti limes are seedless.
- Kaffir limes
Also known as Makrut limes. They are mostly lived because of their aromatic leaves, which are good for giving pleasant flavours to curries, soaps, and stir-fries.
- Calamansi limes
They are smaller and softer, which makes them easy to juice with a bare hand, unlike some other limes.
- Finger limes
It is called finger limes because it has the shape and size of a finger; they are also called banana limes. Its fruit is edible.
- Blood limes
They are a cross between the red finger limes and the Ellandale Mandarin; they are acidic just like a lemon but are excellent when using in sauces. It possesses a red colour which brought about the name BLOOD LIME.
- Limequat
They are hybrid between a kumquat and key lime; it grows on a bushy tree that can reach over two meters in height; it belongs to the Rutaceae or citrus family; they are suitable for both raw and cooked application and can be consumed whole.
- Omani dried limes
Also known as black limes, they are smaller than the average lime; they lost their water content usually after spending most their drying time in the sun.
Health Benefits of Lime
Lime can render itself extensively useful to us humans, especially in health conditions.
Here are some ways by which lime helps to improve our health:
- Promotes healthy skin
- Aids digestion
- Helps in fighting infection
- Helps in weight loss
- Lower blood sugar
- Reduces heart disease
- Prevents cancer
- Reduces inflammation
- Boost immunity
- Increases iron absorption
- Prevent the growth of microorganism