The major grower of the Australian Blood lime says the demand for the fruit is starting to significantly increase, as it gains more exposure to world markets.
Gondwana Native Limes is one of only a handful of growers across the country, with its crop of 1400 trees split almost equally between the Blood and Finger lime varieties. Owner Warren McIntosh says the farm is situated on the southern edge of the Australian rainforest in Bellbrook, a small township on the New South Wales Mid-North Coast, which is an ideal area for Australian citrus.
"While Finger limes over the last few years have been achieving more recognition, the Australian Blood lime is less known and with very few growers," he said. "It is only in the last two years receiving exposure to the market and demand is dramatically increasing. Although we are not certified ‘organic’, our aim is to produce fruit by totally sustainable means in harmony with the surrounding environment. A recent inspection of the farm by the DPI for export clearance was done last month and the inspector noted the health of the orchard, a real testament to our commitment to sustainable farming.”
Photos courtesy: www.instagram.com/gondwananativelimes
Bred in Australia in conjunction with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), it is a cross between an Australian Finger lime and a Burmese lime.
“Its PBR (Plant Breeders’ Rights) name is Australian Blood lime, however for two main reasons I have chosen the name Red lime,” Mr McIntosh said. “The fruit was received well in France a few years ago, but was renamed “Citron Rouge” as they did not like the word ’blood’. I personally agree with this, and chose to call them Red Limes. Also, although they develop rich orange/pink/red colours as they ripen they don’t achieve the same vivid red as a blood orange.”
These fruit are nutritious, having very high Vitamin C content and high levels of Anthocyanin, but McIntosh says it is like many native Australian fruits, where the full potential and health benefits are yet to be discovered.
The Blood Lime season runs from May to August and Gondwana Native Limes are expecting to produce three tonnes this season, after earlier harvesting around one tonne of Finger limes. It mainly supplies the Eastern Australian wholesale markets of Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. Last year a few trial shipments were sent to Canada and Singapore.
“As the trees are not yet fully mature, volume will certainly increase over the coming years,” Gondwana's owner said. “We are also planting more trees and experimenting with some new varieties. There is much interest this year from Italy, Switzerland, Holland and we are currently organising supply to a company in France. Jos de Koning, owner of Superfuiticals is promoting the Red/Blood lime, as well as Finger limes in Lyon (France) and has received very positive feedback from chefs such as the very famous Paul Bocuse.”
These limes are unique and many uses are only recently being tried. As well as the aromatic flavourful juice, and the decorative ‘teardrop caviar’, the skin is often used in herbal teas, and fragrances, while the fruit itself has been used to make gin. Mr McIntosh says many more uses will be found as chefs and researchers from around the globe continue to experiment with them.
"While the Finger lime has the ‘citrus caviar’ which in itself is totally unique, the Red/Blood lime has a larger ‘teardrop caviar’ as well as an abundance of juice," Mr McIntosh explains. "We promote the Red/Blood lime as ‘the citrus sensation', as I feel they have the best attributes of nearly all citrus, wrapped up in this one small fruit. Ideal for use with seafood, cocktails, desserts, sushi, and anywhere a lime or lemon is used. It has the mixed flavours of Finger lime, Burmese lime and mandarin."
But he admits that marketing of the Blood lime has its challenges, saying the size of the farming enterprise means that most of the attention has to be spent on actually growing the fruit. So the only marketing is through website, Instagram and the work of the agents and re-sellers of the fruit.
"As far as I know, Gondwana Native Limes is the major producer of these new and exciting fruits," Mr McIntosh said. "There is another farm in my area that does produce organic Red/Blood limes. They were one of the first farms the initial trials were done at and also have several other Australian native fruits. There is another farm in Western Australia that grows them, and they also have Australian desert limes. I love these Australian limes myself, and it is certainly encouraging to hear nothing but positive comment from all who try them.”
For more information:Warren McIntosh
Gondwana Native Limes
Phone: +61 2 6567 2085