Blood lime
Citrus australasica × Citrus 'Ellendale' · Citrus
Top 10 pairings
The blood lime is a small, crimson-skinned Australian citrus hybrid bred by crossing the native finger lime (Citrus australasica) with a red-fleshed Ellendale mandarin–blood orange line. Deep red inside and out, it has a sharp, refreshing lime acidity edged with a faint berry note, and is used fresh, in marmalades and as a striking garnish.
Picking a good onedrag
Crimson, heavy, oil-slickDull, light, papery
Market firmEveryday bestThe all-rounder: juice, marmalade, whole-fruit garnish.
SkinCrimson to orange-red, still taut
WeightHeavy, with the faintest give under the thumb
Stem endButton dry or shed, scar flush and clean
Scratched peelFragrant rubbed between the fingers, softer edge
Keeping ittap a temperature
Lime-thin skin: below about 8 C the peel pits and goes tan. A cold fridge still buys time, but 10 C is what keeps the rind whole.
90–95%
Humidity
Gentle, not sealed
Airflow