Australian Finger Lime Tree

Two thumbs up for the Australian Finger Limes! These unique limes are shaped like short stubby green fingers and filled with tiny juicy orbs that burst with tart lime flavor when eaten. These succulent spheres, called vesicles, resemble caviar and give this tree its other common names, caviar lime or citrus caviar.

Australian Finger Limes are not used for zest or juicing, and its pulp is not your usual citrus pulp. Inside the fruit are a multitude of individual, small, round, semi-transparent juice vesicles that resemble caviar or pearls. The caviar-like pearls are used mostly as a garnish or essence. The effervescent flavor vesicles add a splash of lime acidity to cocktails, desserts, seafood, and salads. Tart lime tastiness explodes in your mouth with each bite into a vesicle akin to the playful pop of Pop Rocks and tongue-tingling excitement of Sour Patch Kids candy.

Native to Australia, the Finger Lime tree is an evergreen, shrubby tree with dense, spiny branches, and very tiny leaves, approximately ½ inch long. Known for its prolific nature, Citrus australasica, formerly known as Microcitrus australasica, produces an abundance of slender, green thin-skinned oblong fruits measuring 3 inches in length. In California, the Australian Finger lime tree primarily yields fruit from late fall to winter, yet it has the potential to bear fruit consistently throughout the year.

Exotic and gourmet, the unusual Australian Finger limes are not easy to find in the produce section of your neighborhood market but they are easy to grow in your own yard. With its compact habit and dense branching, Australian Finger lime trees are great for small gardens, borders, or in patio planters. Capture the essence of this unique lime by ordering your Australian Finger Lime tree today and enjoy its zingy citrus flavor to come.