Kaffir Lime

chillidude · **Posted:** Thu Jan 14, 2010 11:24 am

One of the favourite trees in my little orchard is my kaffir lime (Citrus x hystrix) - it's a tough little plant that has so many uses.

The leaves are great for flavouring many different things and are a must in many different styles of SE Asian cooking. Definitely one of those cases where the dried version is something you'll never go back to once you've had the fresh - they're light years apart.

If you put lime slices in any sort of drink (gin & tonic, Corona beer, etc) then try a slice of kaffir lime instead as you'll be surprised at how much more aromatic it is.

earthbound · **Posted:** Thu Jan 14, 2010 6:44 pm

I learnt a bit about them, if you keep a kaffir lime in a large pot you do have to water it eventually, otherwise it will die... :dunno:

Jaymie · **Posted:** Thu Jan 14, 2010 7:02 pm

haha

Faye · **Posted:** Thu Jan 14, 2010 8:42 pm

Kaffir lime leaves make a great addition to a red coconut fish curry.

chillidude · **Posted:** Thu Jan 14, 2010 10:08 pm

earthbound wrote:

I learnt a bit about them, if you keep a kaffir lime in a large pot you do have to water it eventually, otherwise it will die... :dunno:

I think there's a PhD in there somewhere Joel - go for it !!! Or leave it for Mitch.

dufflight · **Posted:** Sat Jan 23, 2010 10:36 am

I've got a Kaffir Lime on the kitchen table. Must get around to planting it before it gets sun sensitive. The leaves do have a nice smell.

Granny Smith · **Posted:** Sun Jan 24, 2010 9:58 am

I think any lime has it all over lemons. I've ended up with two Tahitian limes because the previous owner told me one was an orange :crazy:

I can't really justify a kaffir lime as well.

Since my lemon tree turned up its toes I use limes for all recipes and uses where lemons are called for and feel they do a better job. I use them to set jams and jellies and they really do counteract the 'too sweet' taste. Even the leaves work in those recipes that call for them, though probably not as well as kaffir lime leaves would.

chillidude · **Posted:** Sun Jan 24, 2010 10:16 am

I've used tahitian limes leaves, orange leaves and lemon leaves in SE Asian cooking and they all work quite well, so you're not missing out by much GS.

dufflight · **Posted:** Sun Jan 24, 2010 10:31 am

I've been after Finger limes for some time. They look interesting as the insides look like caviar.

chillidude · **Posted:** Sun Jan 24, 2010 8:36 pm

Duff, I'm growing a CSIRO citrus variety (see: http://backyardfarming.com.au/phpbbb/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=39) that is a finger lime crossed with a mandarin - called Australian Sunrise.

They taste great, but are a lot smaller than what thought they'd be. Eaten peel and all, just spit the seeds out.

Snags · **Joined:** Wed Jul 07, 2010 10:52 pm **Posts:** 234

I have a Kaffir lime,I use it occasionally for cooking,it looks good and the fruit looks and smells good as a table decoration.Its a beautiful ornamental tree with added benefits.

earthbound · **Posted:** Fri Jul 09, 2010 4:51 pm

Snags wrote:

I have a Kaffir lime,I use it occasionally for cooking,it looks good and the fruit looks and smells good as a table decoration.Its a beautiful ornamental tree with added benefits.

AND SPIKES........ :scared2:

dufflight · **Posted:** Sat Jul 10, 2010 9:11 am

Granny Smith wrote:

I think any lime has it all over lemons. I've ended up with two Tahitian limes because the previous owner told me one was an orange :crazy:

I can't really justify a kaffir lime as well.

Since my lemon tree turned up its toes I use limes for all recipes and uses where lemons are called for and feel they do a better job. I use them to set jams and jellies and they really do counteract the 'too sweet' taste. Even the leaves work in those recipes that call for them, though probably not as well as kaffir lime leaves would.

If you know someone with a tree or find one in a shop, just take a small branch and graft a bit to your other trees. Then you have one branch that is kaffir.

chillidude · **Posted:** Fri Jul 30, 2010 12:39 pm

dufflight wrote:

If you know someone with a tree or find one in a shop, just take a small branch and graft a bit to your other trees. Then you have one branch that is kaffir.

Simple idea Duff, but a damn good one !

bushy · **Posted:** Tue Nov 22, 2011 8:32 pm

I find kaffirs rather overpowering in flavour if used too much.

Tahitian limes dont taste anything like kaffirs IMO, but if you have tahitians they make fantastic marmalade and just before bottling, grate some raw ginger and stir thru and then bottle....yummo.

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Kaffir Lime

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Kaffir Lime

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