Is Lime a Fruit or Vegetable?

Lime, scientifically known as Citrus aurantiifolia, is generally green and round, with numerous healthy nutrients for the body. It is used in savory dishes and also to sweeten refreshing drinks. But what is lime classified as? Is lime a fruit or vegetable?

This is one of the burning questions on the lips of many and we will address here today. But in a nutshell, lime is basically a fruit; we will discuss more about this below.

Let’s get started!

What Is A Fruit?

In botany, a fruit is a part that grows from flowering plants through the ovary and contains seeds. Therefore, a fruit must come from a plant’s ovary and also have a seed.

See Also: Is Lemon a Vegetable or a Fruit?

What Is A Vegetable?

Vegetable refers to the overall part of a plant that is s edible, excluding the ovaries. These parts may include; the leaves, stems, roots, tubers, bulbs, and blossoms.

Is Lime a Fruit or Vegetable?

Scientifically speaking, lime is considered a fruit; it is a citrus fruit, while culinary sees it as a vegetable.

It has a handful of species, which include the following;

• Key lime
• Citrus glauca (Desert lime)
• Citrus latifolia (Persian lime)
• Citrus hystrix (Makrut lime)

Limes are primarily prevalent in Central America and Mexico. Some sources have it that limes originated in Northern India, Malaysia, and Myanmar.

That said, we can proudly chest it out that lime is mainly a fruit and also a vegetable. 

Why Is Lime Considered a Fruit?

Lime is a fruit because it develops from flowers and contains seeds. Like contains female reproductive organs, which in botany classifies it as a fruit.

Generally, all citrus plants are fruits; this is because they have female reproductive organs.

The male pollen from citrus blooms will fertilize a lime flower’s female ovary to produce a seed. After fertilization of the bloom, it will fall from the tree, allowing the flower ovary to expand into a lime fruit.

Why Is Lime Considered a Vegetable?

We stated earlier that lime is also classified as a vegetable based on culinary usage. This hinges on the fact that lime has a sour taste and bitter taste. They can also be used in savory cuisine and the sweetening of drinks.

It is worthy of note that vegetables consist of the edible leaves, stems, roots, blooms, and even fruit of a plant. Therefore, limes, although citrus fruits, would also be labeled vegetables.

What Are The Nutritional Content Of Lime?

Like contains mostly Vitamin C. Other nutrients include; potassium, fiber, iron, carbohydrates, Vitamin B6, calcium, and thiamin.

Other trace elements found in lime are;

Riboflavin, magnesium, phosphorus, Niacin, and Folate.

What Are The Uses Of Lime?

Considering the nutritional value of limes, it is undoubtedly very useful. Let us take a look at them!

• Like is a major ingredient used in preparing cuisine. This is predominantly in Southeast Asia and Mexican, while India pickles limes. In addition, limes are used in the bakery to prepare desserts, key lime pie, and even ice cream.

• Secondly, limes are fantastic in the production of non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks. They serve as the sweetness in many savory recipes.

• Limes are also used in the production of cleaning agents. This is specifically designed for those who prefer natural cleaning solutions. This is simply because lime has antimicrobial properties. 

Also, you can mix lime juice and vinegar to produce a natural spray cleaner.

Is Lime The Same As Lemon?

Lime is not the same as lemon. They are two different fruits that are related. They are from the same citrus family but are genetically distinct.

It is believed by some botanists that lemon is the hybrid outcome of growing a lime with a citron( citron is a citrus fruit with thicker skin and larger).

Limes are majorly grown in tropical and subtropical areas, while Lemons do well in moderate climates.

Limes and lemon are great for baking and refreshing drinks for their sour flavor. They are used in many culinary dishes globally. Moreover,  their uses are not limited to cooking but include flavoring, sweetening, and food preservation.

Both lemons and fruits serve as natural cleaning agents or products because they have antibacterial elements and fragrances.

Indeed they share many similar features, but they also have notable differences. The most evident is in their appearance. Lemons are more enormous and have vivid yellow, while limes are smaller and have a light green color. Some lime varieties may change to yellow as they mature.

Lemons have more shape, like an oval. However, the fruits have a know tart flavor, although lemons taste somewhat sweeter than lime’s bitterness.

Both have almost the same nutritional value with a little difference. Limes have more calories and carbs though the difference is negligible.

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