View source for Citrus limetta

{{Short description|Citrus fruit and plant}}
{{Use Oxford spelling|date=June 2020}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = Citrus limetta.jpeg
|genus = Citrus
|species = limetta
|authority = [[Joseph Antoine Risso|Risso]]
}}
'''''Citrus limetta''''', alternatively considered to be a [[cultivar]] of ''[[Citrus limon]]'', ''C. limon'' 'Limetta',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.plantnames.unimelb.edu.au/Sorting/Citrus_1.html |website=Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database (M.M.P.N.D) |title=Sorting Citrus Names |last=Porcher |first=Michel H. |year=1995 |publisher=The University of Melbourne |display-authors=etal}}</ref> is a species of ''[[citrus]]'', commonly known as '''mousami''', '''musami''', '''mosambi''', '''sweet lime''', '''sweet lemon''', and '''sweet limetta''', it is a member of the [[sweet lemon]]s.  It is small and round like a common lime in shape.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rachelsorchard.com/sweet-lime-benefits/|title=Citrus Limetta Shape of Fruit|access-date=2021-01-30|archive-date=2023-02-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202174431/https://www.rachelsorchard.com/sweet-lime-benefits/|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is a cross between the [[citron]] (''Citrus medica'') and a [[bitter orange]] (''Citrus'' × ''aurantium'').<ref name="limes and lemons">{{cite journal|title=Phylogenetic origin of limes and lemons revealed by cytoplasmic and nuclear markers |last1=Curk |first1=Franck |last2=Ollitrault |first2= Frédérique |last3=Garcia-Lor |first3= Andres |last4=Luro |first4=François |last5=Navarro |first5=Luis |last6=Ollitrault |first6=Patrick |journal=Annals of Botany |volume=11 |pages=565–583 |year=2016 |issue=4 |doi=10.1093/aob/mcw005 |pmc=4817432 |pmid=26944784}}</ref>

It is native to southern regions of [[Iran]]<ref>http://www.specialtyproduce.com/produce/Persian_Sweet_Lemons_10194.php, "Persian Sweet lemons are believed to be native to southern regions of Iran".</ref>{{Bcn|date=July 2025}} and also cultivated in the [[Mediterranean Basin]]. It is a different fruit from the [[Palestinian sweet lime]]<ref>[http://www.citrusvariety.ucr.edu/citrus/palestine.html Palestine] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726043107/https://citrusvariety.ucr.edu/citrus/palestine.html |date=2019-07-26 }} at [[Citrus Variety Collection]] Website, [http://websites.lib.ucr.edu/agnic/webber/Vol1/Chapter4.html#acid Volume I] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205061009/http://websites.lib.ucr.edu/agnic/webber/Vol1/Chapter4.html |date=2012-02-05 }} See heading: Indian (Palestine)</ref> and from familiar sour [[lime (fruit)|limes]] such as the [[Key lime]] and the [[Persian lime]]. However, genomic analysis revealed it to be highly similar to the [[Rhobs el Arsa]], and the two likely represent progeny of distinct crosses of the same citrus parents.<ref name="limes and lemons" />

The South Asian cultivars originated in [[Mozambique]] and were brought to South Asia by the Portuguese. The common name ''mosambi'' and its variants trace their origin to Mozambique.<ref>{{Citation |last=Masica |first=Colin P. |title=Aryan and Non-Aryan Elements in North Indian Agriculture |date=1979 |work=Aryan and Non-Aryan in India |pages=91 |editor-last=Deshpande |editor-first=Madhav M. |publisher=University of Michigan Press |doi=10.3998/mpub.19419 |jstor=10.3998/mpub.19419 |isbn=978-0-89148-045-7 |editor2-last=Hook |editor2-first=Peter Edwin|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Cheema |first1=G. S. |last2=Bhat |first2=S. S. |date=1934 |title=A Study of the Citrus Varieties of the Bombay Presidency |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/24203386 |journal=Current Science |volume=2 |issue=8 |pages=298–304 |jstor=24203386 |issn=0011-3891}}</ref>

== Names ==
*In [[Iran]] it is called ''limu shirin'' ({{lang|fa|لیمو شیرین}}, meaning 'sweet lemon' in [[Persian language|Persian]]).
* In [[India]], it is commonly called ''mausambi'', ''mosambi'', or ''musambi'' in Hindi ({{lang|hi|मौसंबी}} or {{lang|hi|मुसंबी}}),<ref>{{cite web |title=Indian Drink – Sharbat Recipes – 2/3 – Indian food recipes – Food and cooking blog |url=http://www.sailusfood.com/categories/beverages_indian_drinks_sharbats/page/2/ |work=Indian food recipes – Food and cooking blog}}</ref> ''mausami (''𑂧𑂇𑂮𑂧𑂲'')'' in [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]], ''musammi'' (ਮੁਸੰਮੀ) in Punjabi, ''mosambi'' (मोसंबी) in Marathi, ''moushumi'' or ''mushumbi lebu'' (মৌসুমী বা মুসুম্বি লেবু) in Bengali, ''satukudi'' or ''satukodi'' ({{lang|ta|சாத்துக்குடி}}) in [[Tamil language|Tamil]], ''musambi'' ({{lang|kn|ಮೂಸಂಬಿ}}) in [[Kannada]], ''battayi'' ({{lang|te|బత్తాయి}}) in [[Telugu language|Telugu]], ''chinikaya'' ({{lang|te|చీనీకాయ}}) in Rayalaseema, and ''musambi'' ({{lang|ml|മുസംബി}}) in [[Malayalam]].
* In [[Bangladesh]], it is called ''musambi'' or ''mosambi'' ({{lang|be|মুসম্বি/মোসাম্বি}}, in [[Bengali language|Bengali]]).
* In [[Nepali language|Nepali]], it is called ''mausam''.
* In [[Pakistan]], usually, it is called ''meetha'' ({{lang|ur|{{nastaliq|میٹھا}}}}) in [[Urdu language|Urdu]] and ''mitha'' ({{nq|مٹھا}}) in [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]].
* In the [[Sindhi diaspora|Sindh]], it is known as ''mosami''.
* Among [[Iraqi Armenians]], it is called ''noumi'' ({{lang|hy|նումի}}).
* In [[France]], it is sometimes called ''bergamot''; it should not be confused with ''[[Citrus bergamia]]'', the bergamot orange.
* In the [[Dominican Republic]], it is called ''limón dulce'', ''lima dulce'', ''dulce limeta'', or ''limettioides dulces'', because of this sweetness in these two citrus fruits.<ref>[http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2011/03/what-is-a-bergamot/ What is a Bergamot?] David Lebovitz. March 6, 2011. “According to the University of California horticultural website, Citrus limetta Risso (or what are called bergamots in France) ‘are sometimes incorrectly referred to as bergamots.’ ”</ref>
* In the [[Yucatán]], it is called "lima". This commonly causes confusion, with dishes such as [[Sopa de lima]] being translated as "lime soup". The word for sour lime in the Yucatan is limón.<ref>Sterling, D. (2014). Yucatán: Recipes from a Culinary Expedition. University of Texas Press.</ref>

== Description ==
[[File:(Citrus limetta) Mosambi at a market in Seethammadhara.jpg|thumb|The limetta (lemetjie), Mosambi cultivar, at a market in [[Seethammadhara]].]]
[[File:A road side fruit juice stall.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Mosambi ([[sweet lime]]) juice is a popular citrus drink in [[India]]]]
''C. limetta'' is a small tree up to {{convert|8|m|ft|abbr=on}} in height, with irregular branches and relatively smooth, brownish-grey bark. It has numerous thorns, {{convert|15|-|75|mm|in|abbr=on}} long. The [[petiole (botany)|petioles]] are narrowly but distinctly winged, and are {{convert|8|-|29|mm|in|abbr=on}} long. [[Leaf|Leaves]] are [[Leaf#Divisions of the blade|compound]], with [[leaf shape|acuminate]] [[leaflet (botany)|leaflets]] {{convert|50|-|170|mm|in|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|28|-|89|mm|in|abbr=on}} wide. [[Flower]]s are white, {{convert|20|-|30|mm|in|abbr=on}} wide. [[Fruit]]s are oval and green, ripening to yellow, with greenish pulp. The pith is white and about {{convert|5|mm|in|abbr=on}} thick. Despite the name ''sweet lime'', the fruit is more similar to a greenish orange in appearance.
[[File:Citrus limetta 'Millsweet' - Sweet lemon.jpg|thumb|'Millsweet' [[cultivar]] of limetta in growth.]]
[[File:Moushumi or mushumbi lebu (Citrus limetta, a sweet lemon).jpg|thumb|180px|Moushumi or mushumbi lebu in [[West Bengal]], India.]]
''C. limetta'' grows in [[Tropics|tropical]] and [[Subtropics|subtropical]] climates. It begins bearing fruit at 5 to 7 years old, with peak production at 10 to 20 years. It is [[plant propagation|propagated]] by [[seed]].

== Flavour ==
[[File:Mosambi Juice.JPG|thumb|left|upright|Freshly pressed [[sweet lime]] juice as served in the [[Indian subcontinent]]]]
As the name ''sweet lime'' suggests, the flavour is sweet and mild, but retains the essence of lime. The lime's taste changes rapidly in contact with air, and will turn bitter in few minutes,{{Citation needed|date=March 2015}} but if drunk soon after being juiced, the taste is sweet. The flavour is a bit flatter than most citrus due to its lack of acidity. It can be compared to [[limeade]] and [[pomelo]].

== Uses ==
Sweet lime is served as juice and is good as a mixer for vodka or rum. It is the most common available citrus juice in the [[Indian subcontinent]]. The juice is commonly sold at mobile road stalls.

Like most citrus, the fruit is rich in [[vitamin C]], providing 50&nbsp;mg per 100&nbsp;g serving and antioxidants.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=biFBAAAAYAAJ|title=Nutritive Value of Indian Foods|work=google.co.in|last1=Gopalan|first1=C.|last2=Rama Sastri|first2=B. V.|last3=Balasubramanian|first3=S. C.|year=1989}}</ref> In Iran it is popular as a house remedy to treat [[influenza]] and the [[common cold]].

The tree is used for [[ornamental plant|ornamental]] purposes as well as for [[grafting|graft stock]].<ref name="ars-grin.gov">{{cite web|url=http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl?Citrus%20limetta|title=Results of your search: Citrus limetta|work=ars-grin.gov|access-date=2007-02-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924131129/http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl?Citrus%20limetta|archive-date=2015-09-24|url-status=dead}}</ref>

{{nutritional value | name=Sweet Lime
| water=88 g
| kJ=180
| protein=0.7-0.8 g
| fat=0.3 g
| carbs=9.3 g
| Cholesterol=0 g
| fibre=0.5 g
| sugars=1.7g
| calcium_mg=40
| iron_mg=0.7
| magnesium_mg=
| phosphorus_mg=30
| potassium_mg=490
| vitC_mg=50
| vitA_mg=0.006
}}

== Checking for ripeness ==
Like most ''[[citrus]]'', sweet limes will not ripen off the tree, and must be picked when fully ripe. This is indicated by its tennis ball size and lustrous greenish yellow sheen. Gently scratch the surface of a sweet lime: If its oils give way in the fingernails, it is ripe. The juiciest fruits feel heavy for their size.

Underripe fruit feels light for its size, and is hard with tart flesh. Overripe fruit is dull and shrunken, with dry, spongy skin. Avoid fruit with brownish-yellow discoloration.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theindianvegan.blogspot.in/2013/03/all-about-sweet-lime-mosambi.html|title=The Earth of India: All About Sweet Lime (Mosambi)|author=Catherine Reddy|work=theindianvegan.blogspot.in|access-date=2013-12-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151114024758/http://theindianvegan.blogspot.in/2013/03/all-about-sweet-lime-mosambi.html|archive-date=2015-11-14|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Storage ==
Sweet limes keep fresh for up to two weeks at room temperature, and four to eight weeks refrigerated. Frozen juice will keep for up to six months. It is possible to freeze slices of the fruit, though the [[limonin]] content may cause the pulp to taste bitter over time. This can be avoided by submerging the slices in sweet syrup within an airtight glass jar.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Citrus}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q2405517}}

[[Category:Agriculture in Iran]]
[[Category:Agriculture in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Agriculture in India]]
[[Category:Citrus|limetta]]