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Citrus crops appeared on the planet more than 8 million years ago. The oldest citrus fruit was citron. On the basis of this species, other famous fruits appeared: lemon and lime. Lime differs from lemon in physical characteristics, their chemical compositions are very similar. Lemon leads in vitamin C content, while lime is more nutritious. In addition, lemon, unlike lime, is more popular and more commonly used in cooking and traditional medicine.
What is "lime" and "lemon"
Citrus - plants of the Rutaceae family. Lemon and lime are famous members of this family. For many, these names refer to the same citrus. In fact, their differences are significant.
Lime first appeared on the Malacca Peninsula in the Mediterranean, and its name comes from the Persian word "limu". Fruit cultivation began in the 19th century. in the Lesser Antilles. The modern market gets fruit from Mexico, Egypt, India. Trees need a tropical climate to grow fully. They grow on moist soils of the tropics and are resistant to high humidity.
Lemon is a citrus fruit of the Rutaceae family. It arose as a hybrid, then developed for a long time separately from related citrus crops. The islands of the Pacific Ocean are considered his homeland. Countries with a subtropical climate are suitable for cultivation. The first historical mention dates back to the 12th century, as evidenced by the records of the Arabs who brought citruses to the Middle East from Pakistan. Lemon is widespread in the Mediterranean countries, on the Black Sea coast, in the Caucasus. It is a fruit that contains more than 80% vitamin C. The culinary uses of citrus are more extensive, in this it differs from lime. It is used for all kinds of dishes, added to drinks, and serves as a base ingredient in a number of baked goods or appetizers.
What lime and lemon have in common
Both citrus fruits are similar in chemical composition. The set of vitamins and minerals differs slightly. This can be explained by belonging to the same species. Citrus fruits combine varieties with similar qualities.
Characteristics | Lemon | Lime |
Calorie indicator | About 30 kcal | About 30 kcal |
Vitamin C | More than 80% | 48% |
Cellulose | 3 - 5 g | 3 g |
Vitamins of group B | 6% | 5 — 6% |
Folate | 4% | 3% |
Micro and macro elements | 7% | 6% |
Carbohydrates and Proteins | 2 g | 1 - 2 g |
Differences in chemical composition are almost imperceptible. Lemon is known for its high content of ascorbic acid, compared to which lime contains only half of ascorbic acid. It also contains folic acid.
What is the difference between lemon and lime
The main differences relate to taste and external characteristics. When choosing a citrus, they are guided by the appearance of the fruit.
What lemon and lime look like
These citruses cannot be confused. Some differ in size, others can be judged by their color. Unlike lime, lemon looks thicker. It has a thick peel, a white layer that is located between the peel and pulp, and contains a large amount of nutrients.
- Lime is a small tree with greenish fruits. The shape of the fruit can be semi-oval, elongated on one side. Lime peels range in color from light green to greenish yellow. The pulp of the fruit is green, juicy. The diameter of the fruit can reach 5 cm. The average weight of the fruit is 150 g.Limes ripen all year round, with the main harvest coming after the rainy season.
- Lemons are harvested from tall evergreen trees. They ripen in the fall. The fruits can grow up to 10 cm in length, the width of the fruits is 5 - 8 cm. The shape of the fruit is semi-oval or large, it depends on the variety. Skin color - yellow, light yellow, yellow-green. The pulp is juicy, there are seeds inside.
The difference between lime and lemon in taste
Taste characteristic is one of the main indicators of difference.
Lime has a pronounced sour taste. Hybrid varieties can taste bitter, this property is used for the preparation of alcoholic beverages. However, the fruit is not suitable for making desserts because it does not contain sucrose.
Some varieties of lemons have an extremely sour taste, but there are hybrids with pronounced sweetness. They have an increased content of pectins and sugar.
Lemon and Lime Cooking Applications
The differences between citrus fruits are expressed in the ways of culinary use. Main culinary similarity: Both citrus are suitable for making lemonades of the same name.
Uses of lemons:
- they are eaten fresh, added pulp to fruit salads, used as a snack in whole slices;
- juice is an integral part of famous salad dressings and sauces;
- marinate meat, poultry with juice;
- zest, juice and pulp are suitable for baking, they are added to the dough or they are used for filling for shortbread pies;
- juice is one of the constituent parts of drinks.
Lime is the basis for making alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails. In Asia and Latin America, lime is used in hot dishes as an independent ingredient. The famous guacomole cold appetizer is prepared exclusively with lime. For Thai sweet and sour soups, only juice is suitable. The most famous first course is Tom Yam soup.
Lime juice is used to extract citric acid from it. Lime oil is used to improve the taste of various drinks.
Differences in shelf life
Lemon differs from lime in the period during which citrus retains its beneficial qualities:
- Lime is stored for about 2 weeks at temperatures from 0 to +4 ° C;
- Lemons can be stored for up to a month in the refrigerator and for 3 to 4 months in the freezer.
Citruses that are cut differ in shelf life:
- Cut lime should be eaten within 2 - 3 days;
- Lemon, which is placed in a container with the cut down and placed in the refrigerator, can be stored for up to 5 days.
Differences in growing conditions
Lime trees, unlike lemon trees, are able to bear fruit all year round. For full growth, they need a humid tropical climate. The main period of development falls on the rainy season. The soil in which limes feel comfortable should be light and contain loam. Lime is frost hardy and can tolerate sudden frosts down to -1 ° C without loss.
Lemon trees are light-requiring. For the formation of fruits, they need a daily intake of sunlight for 12 to 15 hours. They do not tolerate drought or excessive moisture. The fruits ripen in early autumn after a long, abundant flowering. Harvesting is carried out 1 time per season.
Which is healthier: lime or lemon
Lemons and limes differ from each other, the benefits of each type can be judged by the impact they have. To understand which citrus is preferable, it is necessary to analyze their effect on the human body.
One lemon contains more than 30% of the daily value of vitamin C. Thanks to this, citrus is used for medicinal purposes.A glass of warm water with a slice of lemon added to it is recommended to drink in the morning on an empty stomach. The drink promotes the awakening of the body, activates the activity of the circulatory system, normalizes the acid-base balance.
Lemons
- indicated for vitamin deficiency, the development of anemias of various origins;
- have a cough action, essential oils and ascorbic acid relieve inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, prevent the spread of viruses;
- are able to influence the state of blood vessels, normalize blood flow and prevent blood stagnation;
- lemon juice activates the pancreas and improves digestive processes;
- contribute to the normalization of metabolic processes.
The peculiarity of lemons lies in the fact that they contribute to the easier assimilation of useful elements such as calcium and iron.
Limes differ from lemons in that they contain folic acid, or vitamin M. It is necessary for strengthening blood vessels, the formation of important fetal systems during pregnancy. Lime juice is added to a glass of water and drunk throughout the day.
Limes
- have immunomodulatory properties, correct the activity of the body's defense mechanisms;
- have a calming effect, therefore they have a beneficial effect on the state of the nervous system;
- due to the increased amount of lemon juice, they can be used in the treatment of colds.
In addition to the listed properties, both citruses are used as a component in the preparation of recipes for traditional medicine or home cosmetology. Lemon is most commonly used. Due to the high content of ascorbic acid, lemons are most in demand in the treatment of colds, and are also used to whiten the skin, remove age spots. Lemon juice and pulp are in demand in the preparation of masks for the face, hair and body.
In addition, lemon cannot always be substituted in cooking. The characteristic bitterness of lime is poorly suited for baking and adding to desserts.
One of the benefits of lemon is its use frozen. When frozen, citrus retains its beneficial properties. In addition, the juice structured after freezing is absorbed faster by the body. The frozen fruit is used to treat various diseases.
Conclusion
Lime differs from lemon in the list of properties and characteristics. Citrus fruits can sometimes be used interchangeably. The beneficial properties of lemon, as well as its taste, make it more popular.
