Citrus limetta

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Citrus limetta
Citrus limetta.jpeg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Rutaceae
Genus: Citrus
Species:
C. limetta
Binomial name
Citrus limetta

Citrus limetta, alternatively considered to be a cultivar of Citrus limon , C. limon 'Limetta', [1] is a species of citrus , commonly known as mousami, musami, sweet lime, sweet lemon, and sweet limetta, it is a member of the sweet lemons. It is small and round like a common lime in shape. [2] It is a cross between the citron (Citrus medica) and a bitter orange (Citrus × aurantium). [3]

Contents

It is native to southern regions of Iran [4] and also cultivated in the Mediterranean Basin. It is a different fruit from the Palestinian sweet lime [5] and from familiar sour limes such as the Key lime and the Persian lime. However, genomic analysis revealed it to be highly similar to the Rhobs el Arsa, and the two likely represent progeny of distinct crosses of the same citrus parents. [3]

The South Asian cultivars originated in Mozambique and were brought to South Asia by the Portuguese. The common name musambi and its variants trace their origin to Mozambique. [6] [7]

Names

Description

The limetta (lemetjie), Mosambi cultivar, at a market in Seethammadhara. (Citrus limetta) Mosambi at a market in Seethammadhara.jpg
The limetta (lemetjie), Mosambi cultivar, at a market in Seethammadhara.
Mosambi (sweet lime) juice is a popular citrus drink in India A road side fruit juice stall.jpg
Mosambi (sweet lime) juice is a popular citrus drink in India

C. limetta is a small tree up to 8 m (26 ft) in height, with irregular branches and relatively smooth, brownish-grey bark. It has numerous thorns, 15–75 mm (0.59–2.95 in) long. The petioles are narrowly but distinctly winged, and are 8–29 mm (0.31–1.14 in) long. Leaves are compound, with acuminate leaflets 50–170 mm (2.0–6.7 in) long and 28–89 mm (1.1–3.5 in) wide. Flowers are white, 20–30 mm (0.79–1.18 in) wide. Fruits are oval and green, ripening to yellow, with greenish pulp. The pith is white and about 5 mm (0.20 in) thick. Despite the name sweet lime, the fruit is more similar to a greenish orange in appearance.

'Millsweet' cultivar of limetta in growth. Citrus limetta 'Millsweet' - Sweet lemon.jpg
'Millsweet' cultivar of limetta in growth.
Moushumi or mushumbi lebu in West Bengal, India. Moushumi or mushumbi lebu (Citrus limetta, a sweet lemon).jpg
Moushumi or mushumbi lebu in West Bengal, India.

C. limetta grows in tropical and subtropical climates. It begins bearing fruit at 5 to 7 years old, with peak production at 10 to 20 years. It is propagated by seed.

Flavour

Freshly pressed sweet lime juice as served in the Indian subcontinent Mosambi Juice.JPG
Freshly pressed sweet lime juice as served in the Indian subcontinent

As the name sweet lime suggests, the flavour is sweet and mild, but retains the essence of lime. The lime's taste changes rapidly in contact with air, and will turn bitter in few minutes,[ citation needed ] but if drunk soon after being juiced, the taste is sweet. The flavour is a bit flatter than most citrus due to its lack of acidity. It can be compared to limeade and pomelo.

Uses

Sweet lime is served as juice and is good as a mixer for vodka or rum. It is the most common available citrus juice in the Indian subcontinent. The juice is commonly sold at mobile road stalls.

Like most citrus, the fruit is rich in vitamin C, providing 50 mg per 100 g serving and antioxidants. [10] In Iran it is popular as a house remedy to treat influenza and the common cold.

The tree is used for ornamental purposes as well as for graft stock. [11]

Sweet Lime
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy 180 kJ (43 kcal)
9.3 g
Sugars 1.7g
Dietary fibre 0.5 g
Fat
0.3 g
0.7-0.8 g
Vitamins Quantity
%DV
Vitamin C
60%
50 mg
Minerals Quantity
%DV
Calcium
4%
40 mg
Iron
5%
0.7 mg
Phosphorus
4%
30 mg
Potassium
10%
490 mg
Other constituentsQuantity
Water88 g
Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults.

Checking for ripeness

Like most citrus , sweet limes will not ripen off the tree, and must be picked when fully ripe. This is indicated by its tennis ball size and lustrous greenish yellow sheen. Gently scratch the surface of a sweet lime: If its oils give way in the fingernails, it is ripe. The juiciest fruits feel heavy for their size.

Underripe fruit feels light for its size, and is hard with tart flesh. Overripe fruit is dull and shrunken, with dry, spongy skin. Avoid fruit with brownish-yellow discoloration. [12]

Storage

Sweet limes keep fresh for up to two weeks at room temperature, and four to eight weeks refrigerated. Frozen juice will keep for up to six months. It is possible to freeze slices of the fruit, though the limonin content may cause the pulp to taste bitter over time. This can be avoided by submerging the slices in sweet syrup within an airtight glass jar.

Related Research Articles

<i>Citrus</i> Genus of flowering plants

Citrus is a genus of flowering trees and shrubs in the rue family, Rutaceae. Plants in the genus produce citrus fruits, including important crops such as oranges, lemons, grapefruits, pomelos, and limes. The genus Citrus is native to South Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, Melanesia, and Australia. Various citrus species have been used and domesticated by indigenous cultures in these areas since ancient times. From there its cultivation spread into Micronesia and Polynesia by the Austronesian expansion ; and to the Middle East and the Mediterranean via the incense trade route, and onwards to Europe and the Americas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calamansi</span> Hybrid species of citrus

Calamansi, also known as kalamansi, calamondin, Philippine lime, or Philippine lemon, is an economically important citrus hybrid cultivated predominantly in the Philippines. It is native to the Philippines, parts of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei, as well as parts of southern China and Taiwan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marmalade</span> Preserve made from citrus fruits

Marmalade is a fruit preserve made from the juice and peel of citrus fruits boiled with sugar and water. The well-known version is made from bitter orange. It is also made from lemons, limes, grapefruits, mandarins, sweet oranges, bergamots, and other citrus fruits, or a combination. Citrus is the most typical choice of fruit for marmalade, though historically the term has often been used for non-citrus preserves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mandarin orange</span> Small citrus fruit

The mandarin orange, also known as mandarin or mandarine, is a small, rounded citrus tree fruit. Treated as a distinct species of orange, it is usually eaten plain or in fruit salads. Tangerines are a group of orange-coloured citrus fruit consisting of hybrids of mandarin orange with some pomelo contribution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaffir lime</span> Citrus fruit native to tropical Southeast Asia

Citrus hystrix, called the kaffir lime or makrut lime, is a citrus fruit native to tropical Southeast Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lime (fruit)</span> Citrus fruit

A lime is a citrus fruit, which is typically round, green in color, 3–6 centimetres (1.2–2.4 in) in diameter, and contains acidic juice vesicles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Limequat</span> Hybrid Species of fruit and plant

The limequat is a citrus hybrid that is the result of a cross between the Key lime and the kumquat, hybridized by Walter Tennyson Swingle in 1909.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Persian lime</span> Species of fruit and plant

Persian lime, also known by other common names such as seedless lime, Bearss lime and Tahiti lime, is a citrus fruit species of hybrid origin, known only in cultivation. The Persian lime is a triploid cross between Key lime and lemon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bergamot orange</span> Citrus fruit

Citrus bergamia, the bergamot orange, is a fragrant citrus fruit the size of an orange, with a yellow or green colour similar to a lime, depending on ripeness.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rangpur (fruit)</span> Species of fruit and plant

Rangpur, Citrus × limonia or Citrus reticulata × medica, sometimes called the rangpur lime, mandarin lime or lemandarin, is a hybrid between the mandarin orange and the citron. It is a citrus fruit with a very acidic taste and an orange peel and flesh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zest (ingredient)</span> Scraped skin of citrus fruit

Zest is a food ingredient that is prepared by scraping or cutting from the rind of unwaxed citrus fruits such as lemon, orange, citron, and lime. Zest is used to add flavor to foods.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sweet lemon</span> Index of plants with the same common name

Sweet lemon and sweet lime refer to groups of citrus hybrids that contain low acid pulp and juice. They are hybrids often similar to non-sweet lemons or limes, but with less citron parentage. Sweet limes and lemons are not sharply separated:

The sweet lime, Citrus limettioides Tan., is often confused with the sweet lemon, C. limetta Tan., which, in certain areas, is referred to as "sweet lime". In some of the literature, it is impossible to tell which fruit is under discussion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ponderosa lemon</span> Citrus fruit and plant

The ponderosa lemon is a citrus hybrid of a pomelo and a citron. It is not the same as the 'Yuma Ponderosa' lemon-pomelo hybrid used as citrus rootstock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lemon</span> Yellow citrus fruit

The lemon is a species of small evergreen tree in the flowering plant family Rutaceae, native to Asia, primarily Northeast India (Assam), Northern Myanmar, and China.

The micrantha is a wild citrus from the papeda group, native to southern Philippines, particularly islands of Cebu and Bohol. Two varieties are recognized: small-flowered papeda, locally known as biasong, and small-fruited papeda or samuyao.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lumia (citrus)</span> Citrus hybrid

The lumia is also called the pear lemon, since its shape resembles a pear. It is also called French lime and sometimes sweet lemon, even though it is not necessarily sweet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhobs el Arsa</span> Citrus fruit and plant

Rhobs al-Arsa is a very popular citrus fruit in Morocco.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Citrus taxonomy</span> Botanical classification of the genus Citrus

Citrus taxonomy refers to the botanical classification of the species, varieties, cultivars, and graft hybrids within the genus Citrus and related genera, found in cultivation and in the wild.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palestinian sweet lime</span> Species of fruit and plant

Citrus limettioides, Palestinian sweet lime or Indian sweet lime or common sweet lime, alternatively considered a cultivar of Citrus × limon, C. × limon 'Indian Lime', is a low-acid lime used in Palestine for food, juice and rootstock. It is a member of the sweet limes. Like the Meyer lemon, it is the result of a cross between the citron and a mandarin/pomelo hybrid distinct from sweet and sour oranges.

References

  1. Porcher, Michel H.; et al. (1995). "Sorting Citrus Names". Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database (M.M.P.N.D). The University of Melbourne.
  2. "Citrus Limetta Shape of Fruit". Archived from the original on 2023-02-02. Retrieved 2021-01-30.
  3. 1 2 Curk, Franck; Ollitrault, Frédérique; Garcia-Lor, Andres; Luro, François; Navarro, Luis; Ollitrault, Patrick (2016). "Phylogenetic origin of limes and lemons revealed by cytoplasmic and nuclear markers". Annals of Botany. 11 (4): 565–583. doi:10.1093/aob/mcw005. PMC   4817432 . PMID   26944784.
  4. http://www.specialtyproduce.com/produce/Persian_Sweet_Lemons_10194.php, "Persian Sweet lemons are believed to be native to southern regions of Iran".
  5. Palestine Archived 2019-07-26 at the Wayback Machine at Citrus Variety Collection Website, Volume I Archived 2012-02-05 at the Wayback Machine See heading: Indian (Palestine)
  6. Masica, Colin P. (1979), Deshpande, Madhav M.; Hook, Peter Edwin (eds.), "Aryan and Non-Aryan Elements in North Indian Agriculture", Aryan and Non-Aryan in India, University of Michigan Press, p. 91, doi:10.3998/mpub.19419.8, ISBN   978-0-89148-045-7 , retrieved 2023-11-06
  7. Cheema, G. S.; Bhat, S. S. (1934). "A Study of the Citrus Varieties of the Bombay Presidency". Current Science. 2 (8): 298–304. ISSN   0011-3891.
  8. "Indian Drink – Sharbat Recipes – 2/3 – Indian food recipes – Food and cooking blog". Indian food recipes – Food and cooking blog.
  9. What is a Bergamot? David Lebovitz. March 6, 2011. “According to the University of California horticultural website, Citrus limetta Risso (or what are called bergamots in France) ‘are sometimes incorrectly referred to as bergamots.’ ”
  10. Gopalan, C.; Rama Sastri, B. V.; Balasubramanian, S. C. (1989). "Nutritive Value of Indian Foods". google.co.in.
  11. "Results of your search: Citrus limetta". ars-grin.gov. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2007-02-16.
  12. Catherine Reddy. "The Earth of India: All About Sweet Lime (Mosambi)". theindianvegan.blogspot.in. Archived from the original on 2015-11-14. Retrieved 2013-12-10.