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Australian Finger Lime (Caviar Lime) and how to use it

Published 01/02/2019, updated 09/03/2020 20 Comments

The Australian Finger Lime, or Caviar Lime, is native to Australia. When cut open, it releases tiny citrus sacs bursting with flavour.
Jump to Usage Instructions Print Instructions
Australian finger lime
Australian finger lime
Australian finger lime

What are Australian Finger Limes?

The Australian Finger Lime (Citrus australasica), as its name suggests, is native to Australia, specifically, the rainforests of SE Queensland and Northern New South Wales.

It is one of a few native lime varieties of Australia, and arguably, the most well known. When cut open, finger limes release tiny little citrus sacs, that are just bursting with flavour.

These tiny, astringent sacs look like caviar, hence their more sophisticated name, lime caviar, or caviar lime.

In its natural habitat, the finger lime plant can grow to be a 6-metre tall tree. It is extremely thorny, with the thorns being rather long and very sharp. There were many ouch moments over the last few months as I attempted to prune or rid my plant of those pesky red spider mites!

Finger lime flower
Finger lime flower

Australian Finger Lime Varieties

Australian finger limes come in different sizes, shapes and colours. They can range from about just 3cm long to about 12 cm (5″). These are some examples of varieties available:

  • Rainforest Pearl. Citrus australasica var. sanguinea, green fruit with touches of red with pink pearls.
  • Pink Ice. Citrus australasica, reddish fruit with clear to light pink pearls.
  • Durhams Emerald. Citrus australasica, black fruit with an emerald green flesh.
  • Judy’s Everbearing. Citrus australasica, green-brown to maroon fruit with green to deep pink flesh.
Australian Finger Lime
Young Finger Lime Pod

What do fingers limes taste like?

Definitely citrusy! Tart, with a touch of bitterness, and just a hint of sweet. Personally, I think it’s almost like a cross between a Persian lime and a young grapefruit, with some lemon basil thrown in.

I just love how the tiny pearls burst in your mouth, releasing a shot of tangy, zingy flavour, as you bite into them unsuspectingly.

Australian finger lime
Australian finger lime

How to use Caviar Limes?

I personally think that they are best used as they are, fresh, as a topping, a garnish or a final flavour enhancer. I’ve seen a few recipes out there for cakes and such, but I reckon you are doing the finger lime a big disservice by cooking it. Its aroma and flavour get lost once cooked.

Caviar limes are best enjoyed raw, and to me, have a special relationship with seafood.

  • with sushi
  • with oysters

Here are just some ways that I use them:

  • canapé topping
  • sushi topping
  • as a garnish on cooked seafood like salmon, scallops, lobsters and prawns (shrimps)
  • in ceviches
  • in salads
  • on risotti (plural of risotto)
  • with oysters (a particular favourite of mine)
  • and most certainly in cocktails, whether it’s the more popular margaritas, gin and tonic, mojitos or the more obscure.

Australian Finger Lime Recipes

I’ve done a couple of recipes using caviar lime, look out for them in the coming weeks. In the meantime, caviar lime would go perfectly in any of the recipes below, used as a garnish or, in the case of the ceviche, ingredient and garnish, alongside whatever lime you are using.

  • Scallop ceviche in a shot glass, dark background
    Scallop Ceviche
  • Colourful salad plate with salmon and oranges. Orange salad
    Smoked Salmon Salad
  • A forkful of creamy lemon risotto
    Lemon Risotto

Gin & Tonic with Australian Finger Lime

Gin & Tonic with Australian Finger Lime and Basil
Gin & Tonic with Australian Finger Lime and Basil

The card below tells you how to use the Australian Finger Lime. For recipe ideas, look above.

Australian finger lime

How to Use Australian Finger Limes (Caviar Limes)

The Australian Finger Lime, or Caviar Lime, is native to Australia. When cut open, it releases tiny citrus sacs bursting with flavour.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Add to Collection Go to Collections
Course: Ingredients
Cuisine: Australian
Keyword: ingredients, lime
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 2 minutes
Author: Azlin Bloor
Cost: £2 ($2.60) per lime

Equipment

  • Knife

Ingredients

  • 1-2 Finger limes as needed

Instructions

  • Cut in half.
  • If your limes are very ripe, squeeze, to release the the pearls. Do this over a bowl to catch the juice that you can add to whatever recipe you are using.
  • If your limes are resistant and not overly ripe, slice them lengthwise, and carefully, using a fork, loosen the pearls without squashing them.
  • Add the juice to your recipe, and top the dish with the pearls.
Discover more Culinary Plants!Check out The Edible Garden

Comments

  1. Esti says

    17/07/2020 at 7:00 pm

    5 stars
    Thank you for your ideas, I bought my tree 4 years ago and this year is my biggest harvest it’s amazing how many I get now. I just didn’t really know what to do with them. These ideas are great.

    Reply
    • Azlin Bloor says

      18/07/2020 at 10:02 am

      Glad I could help, Esti. It’s wonderful when you have so many you don’t know what to do with them!

      Reply
  2. Laraine E Enderle says

    23/04/2020 at 6:11 am

    I just purchased a 5 gallon tree at Costco in California, $24.99 with flowers and one small fruit.

    Reply
    • Azlin Bloor says

      23/04/2020 at 10:14 am

      That’s a really good price you got it for. You should be getting quite a few fruit by this autumn, fingers crossed.

      Reply
  3. Gareth Banks says

    06/02/2019 at 10:42 am

    Very nice. I’ve heard the name but never seen it. Great reading, will have to keep my eyes open for them at our specialty produce shop. Or maybe get them to stock these things.

    Reply
    • Azlin Bloor says

      25/02/2019 at 1:41 pm

      Thank you Gareth. Good luck with finding them!

      Reply
  4. Will JB says

    04/02/2019 at 12:25 pm

    I saw these at a couple of markets when I was on holiday in Australia a couple of years ago. I forgot all about them. I’m going to look online here see if I can find them.

    Reply
    • Azlin Bloor says

      04/02/2019 at 5:31 pm

      Good luck, and let me know how you use them!

      Reply
  5. Dave Reynolds says

    04/02/2019 at 12:06 pm

    Love your description of the taste!

    Reply
    • Azlin Bloor says

      04/02/2019 at 5:31 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  6. Marilyn Teo says

    02/02/2019 at 8:32 pm

    These are so cool. Where did you get your plant? I’m in the UK too.

    Reply
    • Azlin Bloor says

      04/02/2019 at 10:25 am

      Hi Marilyn, I got them online from Suttons.co.uk for £40. I also found a supplier or 2 on Ebay, but the plant (at £12) was only a year old, and wouldn’t have fruited in the first year or two.

      Reply
  7. Gareth M says

    02/02/2019 at 9:38 am

    These are completely new to me, very interesting. Can I get them in the UK?They’ll go down a treat this summer.

    Reply
    • Azlin Bloor says

      02/02/2019 at 10:29 am

      Hi Gareth, yes you can. Just do a search for them online. Before I grew them, there was just one supplier, Fine Food Specialists. They are pretty costly though, about £4-£5 per little fruit. Before p&p.

      Reply
  8. Chris Fisher says

    01/02/2019 at 9:31 pm

    Wow, you grow finger limes? That’s very cool. I’m in Aus and I can’t find anyone here who sells them. A very interesting read.

    Reply
    • Azlin Bloor says

      02/02/2019 at 10:27 am

      I’ve heard that from family in Aus, Chris. But you can definitely get them online, I know that for sure.

      Reply
      • Linda Summerville says

        11/02/2020 at 11:04 pm

        Hi Azlin & Chris
        I too am in Oz & tasted one of these limes at Laurieton markets a few years back. Loved it…..totally taken with first bite but till recently couldn’t find where to buy any. Two months ago found tree supplier!! BUNNINGS! Hope this helps

        Reply
        • Azlin Bloor says

          12/02/2020 at 4:02 pm

          Hi Linda, thank you for that information, I’ll send Chris an email. I was in the same position when I found someone who sold the plant! But would you believe it, the guys who deliver my groceries now stock these!

          Reply
        • Katie Giczi says

          21/04/2020 at 6:12 am

          Forbidden Fruits nursery at the Bellingen markets sells them. Only buy the grafted ones as the non grafted don’t seem to fruit. They also seem quite fussy as to how the grow. I have had 3 non grafted did nothing. I have 2 grafted one barely fruits and I just picked 2 kg from the other tree to make marmalade.

          Reply
          • Azlin Bloor says

            21/04/2020 at 10:18 pm

            Thanks Katie, I too have a grafted plant. In fact all my citrus plants are grafted, I definitely find them better.

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Hey folks, I’m Azlin Bloor; former chef, culinary instructor and mum of 4.
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