What’s a Palestine Sweet Lime?

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Palestine sweet lime is a very low acid variety of lime. The name “sweet lime” is actually a bit of a misnomer, because the fruit doesn’t really have much flavor, let alone sweetness. This extremely mild lime is used in some Middle Eastern and Asian cuisines, and some people like to use it to make mild-flavored drinks.

You may also hear Palestine sweet lime referred to as the Indian sweet lime. When ripe it has yellow skin and flesh and can be ovoid to spherical, with slightly ribbed skin. The skin contains numerous aromatic oils and the pulp has few seeds. Some people describe the flavor of this lime as “bland” or “bland,” which is perhaps a little strong; “Subtle” might be a better way to describe it.

These limes can be squeezed for juice or grated for zest in various recipes. The zest can be added to baked goods or included in various curries and other dishes, and the juice can be used in a variety of ways. Some cooks also caramelize the skin for use in various recipes. Because lime lacks acidity, the juice can’t be used as a preservative in the same way as other lemon and lime juices, which is something to keep in mind.

This cultivar is also extremely hardy. As a result, many citrus growers use the plant as a rootstock, grafting more delicate citrus varieties onto an established trunk. This practice allows citrus growers to grow more fragile citrus varieties in colder locations, taking advantage of the robustness of the Palestinian sweet lime roots and trunk.

Like other citrus trees, Palestine sweet lime can also make a nice ornamental. The trees produce aromatic white flowers, which can make a garden or patio very pleasing, and the dark green leaves can be an attractive sight. People wishing to grow the plant as an ornamental can prune the tree to shape it and the limes produced can be discarded or used in cooking, depending on personal choice.

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