Manao | มะนาว | Citrus aurantifolia
Family: Rutaceae - Genus: Citrus
Citrus can be found at the entrance area of Eco-Logic and TCDF - in the concrete rings along the road side, in the food forest of the Thai Child Development Foundation and near the restaurant of Eco-Logic Thailand on Mount Never-rest.
The lime you find in the Paksong area is actually called Key Lime. The Key lime is a citrus hybrid with a spherical fruit, 25–50 mm in diameter. The Key lime is usually picked while it is still green, but it becomes yellow when ripe. It is valued for its characteristic flavor. The trees start producing fruit (though not a serious harvest) a year after planting. It takes approximately 9 months from the blossom to the fruit.
Lime can be harvested the whole year round, with less fruit in the rainy season.
THE TREE
The lime tree a shrubby tree, to 5 meter heigh, with many thorns. Its trunk, which rarely grows straight, has many branches, and they often originate quite far down on the trunk.
LIME LEAVES
The leaves of the lime tree are ovate, 25–90 mm long, resembling orange leaves.
Don't mistake the term lime-leaf used in cooking with the leaves of this tree. That term refers to kafir lime leaves.
The leaves, like all citrus leaves, are edible, but do not give a distinct flavor to dishes, like kafir lime leaves do.
LIME FLOWERS
The flowers are 25 mm in diameter, are yellowish white with a light purple tinge on the margins.
The flowers can be added to a salad, but do not add a lot of flavor.
FRUIT
A key lime is a hybrid citrus hybrid fruit that is spherical and measures about 1 to 2 inches across. It is green when picked but becomes yellow when ripe.
A ripe key lime feels heavy for its size.
It is a small fruit, with more seeds, higher acidity, a stronger citrus aroma, and a thinner rind then other limes.
The key lime is valued for its unique flavor.
CULINARY USES OF LIME
Limes are one of the cornerstones of Thai cooking. You will find lime juice in nearly as many recipes as you find fish sauce.
Limes can be used to zest (the peel), for it's juice.
It is used for flavoring marinades, making lemonades, smoothies and for garnishing drinks and plates.
Click on the Food Forest Kitchen link to find recipes from our restaurant in Paksong that use lime, or the juice of lime.
NUTRITION
Limes are high in vitamin C, providing over 20% of your daily needs. They also contain small amounts of iron, calcium, vitamin B6, thiamine, potassium, and more.
A medium lime (67 grams) provides :
Calories: 20
Carbs: 7 grams
Protein: 0.5 grams
Fat: 0.1 grams
Fiber: 1.9 grams
Vitamin C: 22% of the Reference Daily Intake
Calcium: 2%% of the RDI
Vitamin B6: 2% of the RDI
Thiamine: 2% of the RDI
Potassium: 1% of the RDI
Limes also contain small amounts of riboflavin, niacin, folate, phosphorus, and magnesium.
TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL USE OF LIME
NOTE: please take advice from a doctor if you are planning to use herbal medicine.
Limes may help improve immunity, reduce heart disease risk factors, prevent kidney stones, aid iron absorption, promote healthy skin, and lower your risk of certain cancers.
INTO THE WILD: a down to earth experience
For guests and visitors to Paksong we organize weekly tours "The Edible Forest" and Foraging weekends: Into the Wild. We work with local guides to take you in the jungle of Paksong. After foraging, we will cook a meal with the ingredients, using bamboo together with you!
Come and join and learn about the abundance of food that nature gives us!
INTO THE WILD!
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