FINGER LIMES- AN AMAZING LOOK AND TASTE!

We recently tried Finger Limes. Wowzers! The interior fruit sort of looks like caviar (or tapioca), and the taste is delish!

SHANLEY FARMS FINGER LIMES

Finger Limes are new to the United States and many people are just now learning what they are. They were discovered in the Australian bush by the aborigines and domesticated about thirty years ago. The first tree came to California as a donation to UC Riverside. UC Riverside released budwood to Califronia nurseries about eight years ago. The trees proved difficult to grow in nurseries and as a result only two nurseries were successful in propagating the trees.

Shanley Farm’s first order of six hundred trees was the largest individual order the first year trees were produced in California. Shanley Farm’s trees produced their first commercial sized crop in the Fall of 2010.

Finger Limes are prized by chefs because the interior pulp has a caviar like appearance and a delightful lemony lime taste with a pop rock texture. Inventive chefs have already paired Shanley Farms Finger Limes with seafood such as lobster medallions, on top of sushi, grilled salmon, and raw oysters. Shanley Farms Finger Limes are also used in salads, cocktails, paired with persimmons, etc. There’s no end to the possibilities, the explosive bursts of lemony lime flavor provides a texture like no other.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is a finger lime?

A finger lime is a micro citrus, it is not technically part of the lemon or lime family. The interior provides individually contained juice vesicles commonly referred to as citrus caviar. The pulp looks like caviar, and has a very similar taste to a lemon or a lime.

How do I know if a finger lime will be light green, pink, or red inside?

It is hard to tell. If the outside skin has a purple blush, it’s more likely that some of the inside flesh is pink but it’s not 100 percent. When cutting into Shanley Farms Finger Limes approximately 1 in 10 blush pink inside, and 1 in one hundred are light red all the way throughout. The majority of our limes are light green throughout.
Are finger limes genetically modified? No

How long can you store finger limes?

They can be stored 40-44 degrees with no discoloration to the flesh or to the rind for up to 3 weeks, sometimes longer. When stored in a home refrigerator (33-38 degrees) the rind discolors and gets pitted after 7-10 days, but the interior flesh remains unaffected and is also fine for up to 3 weeks. ***There has been no official research done, the results reported here are from Shanley Farm’s personal experience.

Do finger limes get sweeter as they ripen? No.

Like all tart lemon and lime citrus fruits the flavor is and remains tart as the fruit ripens.