Like the lemon buddha hand, the limequat It is a small citrus with special characteristics. It is born from the cross between the lime and the kumquat. It belongs to the hybrid genus Citrofortunella and is used on numerous occasions.
In this post we are going to analyze in depth the characteristics of limequat, as well as its uses and how we should cultivate it if we want to enjoy it in our orchard or garden. Do you want to know more about this curious citrus? Keep reading and you will find out everything.
Key features
Limequat is visibly very similar to kumquat. Nevertheless, it is smaller in size and oval in shape. Its tone is yellowish and is sometimes close to greenish. The skin may taste sweet, but the pulp inside is a mix of sweet, sour, and bitter. This is why it resembles the lime so much. In addition, this citrus contains seeds and the fruit can be eaten naturally.
It can be seen being used for the preparation of cocktails, pastries, sauces, jams and even organic juices. One of its main properties is its high content of vitamin C. The harvest time of this citrus is in winter, between the months of December and February.
Uses
Because it has hardly any calories, it is used in many low-calorie diets. In addition, it is used to make all kinds of cocktail drinks. The pulp is quite juicy and makes it possible to make juice for spirits and to use it in the kitchen. The sweet and sour touch at the same time is perfect for preparing savory dishes or sweetened desserts.
History and nutritional value
This curious citrus comes from Asia. The use that was given before was more decorative due to the large amount of foliage that its trees have. In Spain they have been planted for decades due to the large number of fruits they provide. The community that sows it the most is Valencia, since its climate makes it grow in a more favorable way. In other places where limequats can be found are: United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Israel and Malaysia.
Regarding their nutritional value, we find that they are widely used for diets due to their high content of vitamin C and the few calories they have. It is best to use this product with ecological origin, without the use of any type of nitrogen fertilizer or pesticides that damage the quality of the product. Therefore, below we are going to show you how to grow it in your orchard or garden.
Limequat cultivation
You don't need a spacious garden and you don't even need a garden to have a tree at home. It can be perfectly planted in a pot. From an early age, it will provide us with some very tasty little lemons that can be eaten up to the skin.
In the coldest places we can keep it indoors to protect itself from low temperatures. However, if we have a Mediterranean climate, it can be outdoors all year round. It supports temperatures between 10 and 30 degrees. What you have to be careful with is the high summer temperatures. It is best to put them in the shade during the harshest hours of sun. What hurts the most are frosts, but with a Mediterranean climate, this does not usually cause problems.
The floor must have good drainage and fertilize it naturally in the spring and summer time. There are organic fertilizers for citrus that come in handy. Regarding its maintenance, it is necessary to carry out a pruning to give it a rounded shape and to preserve the shape of a small tree.
Watering must be abundant, especially in the hottest months. It should be watered more frequently in July and August and reduced in the rainiest months. To multiply it, we must use its seeds and plant them at the end of winter.
Among the most common diseases that limequat can attack we have yellowing of the leaves. For this, we can add a dose of ferric chelate. It can be sprayed every twenty days or so with neem oil dissolved in water in the dosage stated by the manufacturer. Remember that it is totally ecological.
We do not have to wait any time to be able to eat the fruit and it can help us against pests such as cochineal.
Properties and benefits
The limequat is appropriate to lower cholesterol and help our body absorb iron from food. It is indicated to mitigate the effects of anemia In addition, it is used to treat any infection that affects the respiratory system, from coughing to the strongest sore throats.
In some places they are called dwarf oranges and they are eaten raw as fresh fruit. Depending on the bitterness of the pulp, all or only the skin can be consumed. It is also consumed prepared in syrup or as a pickle.
For some time it has also been used to make jams and its leaves serve as a base for preparing perfumes.
Curiosities of the limequat
As it has a large amount of juice inside, it can be consumed naturally or used in baking. It is curious that, to have such a small size, they have a large amount of juice. There is no greater satisfaction than going to the terrace, grab your own limequats and prepare a jam like this:
- 500 grams of limequat
- 250 grams of sugars
Cut the limequat with its skin and, without wasting juice, mix it with the sugar over low heat in a saucepan. When it starts to boil, it is stirred continuously with a wooden spoon for half an hour or so. We can add a piece of cinnamon stick if we like to give it a different touch.
When it is cold we pack and we can enjoy delicious toasts for breakfast or a snack. We already have the perfect excuse to put a limequat on the balcony or terrace.
With these data you will be able to grow your limequat and enjoy its benefits and its great taste. What are you waiting for to get one? Put your impressions about this citrus in the comments 🙂