Citrus, Finger Lime

Citrus australasica. Native to the east coast of Australia, and prized by chefs, the finger lime is nothing like any citrus you've eaten before. Squeeze the ripe finger-shaped fruits and you will release the 'caviar-like' tangy pearls that burst in the mouth with their zesty fragrance. Some say the taste is somewhere between lime and grapefruit, others say it has a taste all of its own. The 'pearls' are best eaten raw as garnishes, in salads or sushi, for example, to appreciate the flavour. White flowers are borne in spring, followed by the finger-shaped brown fruits that mature in late summer. Treat as any other citrus; protect from frost in winter but best outside in summer. Plants can be pruned to keep them small enough to move inside in winter. Priced for: a strong bushy plant, 70 - 80 cm tall in a 5 litre pot