Common Name: Kaffir Lime

General Information

Kaffir lime is a small, thorny, evergreen shrub or tree that can grow 3 - 12 metres tall. It has a short, crooked, thin bole[, ].
The plant is a very popular ingredient of Thai dishes[, ]. It is commonly cultivated in gardens there and very occasionally grown as a minor crop in mixed orchards[]. The tree is also cultivated in other areas of the world including Central America, Africa (Mascarene Isl.), and the Hawaiian Islands[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - Southern China, Indian Subcontinent, Malaysia and Indo-China.

Habitat

Not known in a truly wild situation[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	4.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated

Cultivation Details

The plant can tolerate occasional, short-lived frosts[]. Three main climates are suitable for commercial citrus production - tropical climates, subtropical with winter rain such as in the Mediterranean and semitropical with summer rainfall as found in Florida and southern Brazil[]. The optimal temperatures for citrus cultivation range between 25 - 30°c, with the coldest month having an average minimum of at least 15°c[]. Growth generally ceases below 13°c and above 38°c[]. If there are dry periods of more than three months, then irrigation will be necessary[].
An easily grown plant[], it prefers a deep, well-drained but moisture-retentive loamy soil in full sun[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 6[].

Edible Uses

Leaves - used as a flavouring and in making teas[, ]. The leaves have a lime flavour and can be cut finely then added as a flavouring in salads or cooked foods[]. They add a pleasant citrus flavour when added to soups and curries[].

Fruit - raw. The lemon-scented fruit[] is rough skinned with a bitter flavour and only produces a small amount of juice, though this is very powerful and can be added to other fruit juices to make them taste more 'alive'[]. The fruit is also used in manufacturing preserves[]. The fruit is 5 - 7cm in diameter[].

The rind of the fruit can be used as a flavouring in cooked foods[]. It can be candied or dried and used in curry pastes[].

Medicinal

The fruit is used medicinally[]. The major use seems to be as an insecticide for washing the head and treating the feet to kill land leeches[].

Citrus species contain a wide range of active ingredients and research is still underway in finding uses for them. They are rich in vitamin C, flavonoids, acids and volatile oils. They also contain coumarins such as bergapten which sensitizes the skin to sunlight. Bergapten is sometimes added to tanning preparations since it promotes pigmentation in the skin, though it can cause dermatitis or allergic responses in some people[]. Some of the plants more recent applications are as sources of anti-oxidants and chemical exfoliants in specialized cosmetics[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is a valuable rootstock for cultivated Citrus plants[].

Other Uses

Extracts from the skin as well as juice are used as an insecticide for washing the head and treating the feet to kill land leeches[].

The fruits are rich in saponins and lather freely in water. They are utilized in hair shampoos and also for washing clothes[, ].
The fragrant leaves also contain saponins and are used as a hair wash[].

Two different essential oils are obtained, one from the leaves and the other from the peel of the fruit[]. They are utilized in the cosmetics industry[].

Propagation

The seed is best sown in containers as soon as it is ripe, after thoroughly rinsing it[, ]. Sow stored seed in containers as soon as possible]. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 3 weeks at 13°c. Seedlings are liable to damp off so they must be watered with care and kept well ventilated. The seed is usually polyembrionic, two or more seedlings arise from each seed and they are genetically identical to the parent but they do not usually carry any virus that might be present in the parent plant[]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on until they are 10cm or more tall before planting out into their permanent positions.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. This species grows easily from cuttings[].
Layering in October.

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