Citrus australasica F. Muell.

ORIGIN DATA:

Australian limes evolved in isolation from other citrus, adapting to the different geographical conditions of the great southern continent. The Blood Citrus Caviar or Pink Finger Lime is characterized by its small, elongated fruits, which contain tiny but individualized vesicles of pink juice. It is understood that this is a natural mutation, as the pink or sanguine varieties are found in the wild in Australia.

TREE AND FRUIT DESCRIPTION:

Slow-growing shrub, with fragile, thin branches, very thorny and with abundant foliage. Very small leaves, slightly toothed, leathery and dark colored. Small fruits of elongated morphology, usually presents small apical mamelon. Thin rind, very aromatic, with a color that evolves from dark green to purple or almost black at maturity. Pink flesh, paler at the beginning of ripening. Formed by small juice vesicles of globose or subglobose morphology containing acid and aromatic juice. It has seeds, many of them aborted.

USES:

The leaves are used to flavor drinks. The rind, dried, flavors dishes or drinks. The juice vesicles garnish and season all kinds of dishes or alcoholic beverages, as an exclusive substitute for lemon or lime.