Lemon vs lime. What is the difference between green lemon and lime? Differences and similarities

Lemon and lime are often confused, because they are actually close relatives. They both contain ascorbic acid in large quantities and are often used in cooking. Both fruits belong to the genus citrus family rue and even their names are similar. But this is, perhaps, all their similarities; otherwise, lime and lemon are completely different fruits, and often non-interchangeable. What is the difference between lemon and lime?

Lemon is an evergreen tree 6-8 meters in height with ovoid-shaped fruits of the same name with tapered ends. The most comfortable climate for its growth is subtropical. The homeland of lemon is called India, China and tropical islands in the Pacific Ocean. There is evidence that as early as the third century BC, the Chinese grew lemon as a cultivated plant.

Lemon

Lime, most often, is a shrub measuring one and a half to two meters, less often a tree up to five meters in height. Its fruits resemble lemon fruits in shape and color, and the Malacca Peninsula is considered its homeland.

Lime is more demanding on soil quality than other citrus crops and grows mainly in the tropics, where the altitude does not exceed thousands of meters above sea level. In principle, lime can be grown in mid-latitudes, but the harvest will be very poor. Today, lime is rapidly gaining popularity among consumers, and the world’s main suppliers of this are very healthy fruit are Mexico, Cuba, India, Egypt and the Antilles.

Appearance

With all the variety of varieties of lemon and lime, there are still similarities between the fruits of these fruit trees. They have the same shape and greenish-yellow color. However, the lime that can be found on store shelves is completely green. The thing is that this fruit quickly deteriorates, and in order to extend the shelf life, it is removed from the bush in an unripe state. Lime, compared to lemon, is even more juicy with tender, granular and always green pulp, while lemon pulp is transparent, with a yellowish tint.

In addition, the size of a lemon prevails over the size of a lime, although some varieties of lime are quite comparable to a lemon.

Lime

Taste qualities

It would probably be difficult to find a more sour fruit than lemon if there were no lime. Not only is lime even more sour, its taste has a bitter undertone. You can’t eat lime just like that, raw, without added sugar, but its aroma delights everyone.

Storage conditions

Lime has a very thin and smooth skin, which does not allow it to be stored even in the most ideal conditions more than two weeks. All this time, the lime should lie in the refrigerator at a constant temperature of +4 degrees, without any exposure to moisture.

Lemon is not so picky about storage conditions. It can remain in the refrigerator for about two months without losing its presentation.

Benefit

Lemon, like lime, is widely used in medicine as a storehouse of vitamin C. Moreover, lime contains more of it, but it should be borne in mind that 60 percent of the vitamin is lost during heat treatment.

These fruits are a natural sedative, normalize heart function and strengthen blood vessels, prevent the development of atherosclerosis and treat lung diseases, remove toxins from the body, and strengthen the immune system.

In addition to vitamin C, lemon is famous for the presence of a large amount of phytoncides and vitamin P, and lime is rich in B vitamins and fruit acids.

Differences between lemon and lime

Lemon is larger and yellower than lime.
The taste of lime is more sour than lemon, and also has a bitter tint.
The pulp of a lime is green, while that of a lemon is transparent yellowish.
Lime is stored for no more than two weeks, lemon - about two months.
Lime contains more ascorbic acid than lemon, but up to 60 percent of it is destroyed during heat treatment, and it is almost impossible to consume lime raw. Read more:

The Rutov family, which has genetic similarities with lemon. Evergreen bushy tree, flowering all year round, reaches 4.5 meters in height. Lime leaves have an oval shape and a dense structure; they have sharp thorns. Inflorescences of 1-7 are collected in the axils of the branches. Most fruits occur during the rainy season - in May.

Homeland of the exotic tree - Southeast Asia, India, but it turns out that the Himalayan lime variety can be grown in many regions, and the most common are the USA, Venezuela, Cuba, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Myanmar, West Africa, Italy and other countries with warm subtropical climates.

Lime and lemon

Lime - green fruit, differs from lemon in its softer peel, small number of seeds and relatively sweetish taste, although there are bitter-sour fruits. The popularity of the fruit has increased due to the tradition of drinking it with tequila. But this is not the only area of its application. Lime contains more vitamins than lemon, and its acid is less aggressive; it does not corrode mucous tissue.

The larger the lime, the juicier it is and the fewer seeds it contains, which are annoying when squeezing juice. It is advisable to choose fruits with shiny skin of a uniform shade, smooth and without blemishes. U quality lime The pulp is tender, with expressive granules. Most often in the photo, lime is a green fruit, from light green to the darkest shades.

Lime for rejuvenation

Thanks to unique properties lime has a rejuvenating effect.

Beneficial properties of lime used in cosmetology:

Vitamin C in combination with potassium prevents aging;
prevents atherosclerosis;
strengthens blood vessels;
prevents cholesterol increase;
stimulates collagen production;
under the influence of lime, capillaries become strong and elastic, as a result of which blood supply improves, large wrinkles are smoothed out, and small ones become invisible;
Redness, bruises, bruises, and dandruff are eliminated with lime juice.

To eliminate pigmentation and inflammation of the skin, a mixture of lime juice (1 piece) with honey (100 g) is used as facial compresses (20 minutes daily for 30 days).

Lime Ingredients:

vitamins of groups: A, B, C, E, K, PP, beta-carotene;
minerals - phosphorus, iron, calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, manganese, selenium, zinc;
essential oils, phytoncides, organic acids, fiber;
proteins (0.9), carbohydrates (3), fats (0.1);
dietary properties: calorie content 35/100 g.

Health Benefits

The variety of microelements has a beneficial effect on the condition of the whole organism. Acids - citric and malic - take part in the formation of iron and hematopoiesis, eliminate bleeding gums. The presence of lime in the diet eliminates the need for dental treatment: the active form of the elements calcium and phosphorus inhibits the development of plaque and caries, strengthens and restores damaged enamel, destroys bacteria, and promotes teeth whitening.

Thanks to lime, immunity improves, respiratory diseases disappear, pneumonia, flu, and colds go away. The body becomes more resistant to dangerous infections and forms of illness.

Treatment

Diseases that lime treats:

Lyme will help stop the development of varicose veins at the initial stage. Fruit circles are applied to problem areas and fixed with polyethylene and a bandage.
Lime relieves irritability, nervousness, depression, completely promotes recovery nervous system. It is a natural antidepressant and tranquilizer that copes with depressive symptoms no worse than medications.

At regular use improves digestion: thanks to organic acids, essential oils, pectins, food is easily absorbed, the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract is improved, including relief from constipation and peptic ulcers; toxins are removed from the body.
Leads to normal blood pressure.
Helps defeat urogenital infections. It is known that lime helps overcome such diseases due to its antiseptic properties.
Helps heal eye infections and renew corneal tissue.
Helps heal from kidney disease.

Diet and weight loss

Using the fruit as part of your diet, you can feel what lime does to your figure during the process of losing weight. Vitamin C with other components speeds up metabolism, restores the body’s natural cleansing functions, so after just a couple of weeks the body looks noticeably toned.

Directions for use:

Weight loss drink: dilute the juice of two fruits with a cup of water and drink in the mornings and evenings before meals.
Useful juice for accelerating metabolism, improving digestion, tone, losing weight from grapefruit, lime and ginger: chop the ginger (root), add water (200 ml), add sugar (2 spoons), simmer until dissolved over fire. Add lime and grapefruit juice to the ginger base. Drink chilled.
There is a very simple way to lose weight using lime. A piece of fruit should be eaten in the morning on an empty stomach, and lightly sprinkled with salt for a laxative effect.
Instead of unhealthy fast food during your lunch break, you can eat vitamin cocktail from banana, apple, kiwi, whipped in a blender. The fruit mass must be supplemented with lime juice, the acid of which will be neutralized by other flavors.
What is lime for high-calorie dish? Use fatty meat or pasta will not lead to weight gain if you add lime sauce to it.

Spaghetti recipe, ingredients:

vermicelli - 500 g;
avocado - 3 pcs.;
orange - 1 pc.;
lime - 2 fruits;
cilantro - 1 bunch;
onion greens - 1 bunch;
vegetable broth;
salt, pepper

Cooking spaghetti:

squeeze lime juice;
cut the avocado into cubes, mix a third of them with a small amount of juice, leave for last stage preparations;
Grind the main part of the avocado in a blender with lime juice until pureed;
add 4 tablespoons of orange juice, onion, cilantro, broth and spices to the puree;
pour the prepared sauce over the spaghetti;
Place avocado cubes on top, seasoned with lime juice and herbs.

Use

Cocktails are prepared with the addition of lime and served with invigorating and alcoholic drinks- coffee, tea, as well as beer or tequila.

Lime is a great complement spicy salads, spicy pates, hearty meat, fish and potato dishes, it is good as a sauce or dressing for vegetable salad. And if you need to add an unusual flavor to a pie or dessert, use fruit zest. Seafood is marinated in lime juice.

IN pure form lime juice It is sour, so it is combined with others, for example: blueberries, strawberries.

Surprisingly, in the summer, drinks with its addition have a cooling effect, and in the winter, the same properties of lime help to warm up.

Before consuming lime, the fruit must be rolled with the palm of your hand on the board: this way you can extract more juice from it. Heat treatment undesirable for the fruit: many beneficial components will be destroyed, including vitamin C.

Storage

Lime is a fruit beneficial properties which are quickly lost when room temperature. Its skin dries out, becomes stained, and it becomes less juicy. In a relatively cool room, the fruit remains fresh for about three weeks, more long term It is irrational to buy it. At a temperature of 8 degrees and humidity up to 90%, the fruits are stored for about 2 months.

To reap the benefits of lime over time, it is recommended to squeeze the juice out of it and freeze it in plastic. The same zest preparation can be stored in the freezer for up to six months.

Contraindications

A variety of essential oils promotes the intensive production of gastric juice. The fruit should be consumed with caution by those who suffer from acute nephritis, pancreatitis, colitis, enteritis, cholecystitis, hepatitis, duodenal ulcer, increased acidity. Perhaps your doctor will allow you to add lime to your diet in small portions.

Lemon and lime are often confused, because they are actually close relatives. They both contain ascorbic acid in large quantities and are often used in cooking. Both fruits belong to the genus of citrus fruits of the rutaceae family and even their names are similar. But this is, perhaps, all their similarities; otherwise, lime and lemon are completely different fruits, and often non-interchangeable.

Lemon is an evergreen tree 6-8 meters in height with ovoid-shaped fruits of the same name with tapered ends. The most comfortable climate for its growth is subtropical. The homeland of lemon is India, China and tropical islands in the Pacific Ocean. There is evidence that as early as the third century BC, the Chinese grew lemon as a cultivated plant.

Lime is more demanding on soil quality than other citrus crops and grows mainly in the tropics, where the altitude does not exceed thousands of meters above sea level. In principle, lime can be grown in mid-latitudes, but the harvest will be very poor. Today, lime is rapidly gaining popularity among consumers, and the main world suppliers of this very healthy fruit are Mexico, Cuba, India, Egypt and the Antilles.

Appearance

Lemon

In addition, the size of a lemon prevails over the size of a lime, although some varieties of lime are quite comparable to a lemon.

Lime

Taste qualities

Storage conditions

Lime has a very thin and smooth skin, which does not allow it to be stored even in the most ideal conditions for more than two weeks. All this time, the lime should lie in the refrigerator at a constant temperature of +4 degrees, without any exposure to moisture.

Lemon is not so picky about storage conditions. It can remain in the refrigerator for about two months without losing its presentation.

Benefit

In addition to vitamin C, lemon is famous for the presence of a large amount of phytoncides and vitamin P, and lime is rich in B vitamins and fruit acids.

Conclusions website

Lemon is larger and yellower than lime.
The taste of lime is more sour than lemon, and also has a bitter tint.
The pulp of lime is green, and that of lemon is transparent yellowish.
Lime is stored for no more than two weeks, lemon - about two months.
Lime contains more ascorbic acid than lemon, but up to 60 percent of it is destroyed during heat treatment, and lime is almost impossible to consume raw.

The beneficial properties of lemon and its closest genetic relative, lime, have many similarities. Many people confuse these two citrus fruits; some believe that lime is an unripe lemon. Although this is far from true. There is ongoing debate about which fruit is healthier. Both citrus fruits contain ascorbic acid, belong to the same botanical genus and are used in cooking, but that’s where their similarities end. Let's figure out, looking at the photographs, what their main differences are.

What is the difference between lemon and lime

In addition to size and color, fruits have other distinctive features:

Lemon is stored in refrigeration chamber two months without loss of quality, and lime for only two weeks.
Lemon is sour, and lime is even more sour and has a bitter aftertaste.
Lemon is larger than lime, although some varieties of the latter are as big as lemons.

Lime and lemon are two different fruits

The lime pulp has green, and the lemon pulp is greenish or yellow.
Limes bear fruit all year round, while lemons bear fruit once a year.
Vodka is enjoyed with lemon, and drinking tequila is incomplete without lime.
The homeland of lime is the tropics, and lemon is an inhabitant of the subtropical zone.
Lime has a more pronounced flavor.

Advice. When choosing citrus fruits, pay attention to the weight; the heavier the fruit, the more juice it contains. The lime peel must be green; the greenish color of the lemon indicates that the fruit is not ripe and will be very sour. The skin of the fruit should be firm.

What unites them

Citrus peels and seeds contain substances that prevent the development of cancer cells and lower cholesterol. Both citrus fruits contain a high dose of vitamin C, so consuming these fruits helps improve immunity.

Both citrus fruits contain a large amount of vitamins.

Vitamin P increases the elasticity of blood vessels. The composition also contains fruit acids, pectins, micro and macroelements, B vitamins. Essential oils give them aroma and have phytoncidal properties. However, it cannot be said that they have the same effect on the body.

The healing properties of lemon

The fruit pulp contains citric acid, carotene, sugar, pectins and vitamins. In the 16th century, lemons began to be taken on long sea voyages as a remedy for scurvy. Later studies showed that almost half daily dose Vitamin C is found in one lemon. Minerals are richly represented in lemon; not every juice contains such an assortment of substances.

Lemons are consumed to prevent vitamin deficiency or, conversely, hypervitaminosis. For the treatment of gastrointestinal tract, scurvy, atherosclerosis, sore throat and gout. Indications for the use of lemon are disorders of mineral metabolism, arterial hypertension, and urolithiasis. Lemon stimulates digestion and stimulates appetite. The substances contained in lemon help the body absorb Ca and Fe. There is evidence that lemon lowers blood cholesterol levels. A glass of water with lemon juice, drunk in the morning on an empty stomach, helps remove waste and toxins from the body, and also helps fight excess weight.

Lemon is widely used in cooking and cosmetology.

IN for cosmetic purposes lemon is used in face masks to remove freckles and age spots, and heal small cracks in the skin. They make hair balms, lotions and creams.

Beneficial properties of lime

Lime is used in a similar way to lemon. It is also a storehouse of vitamin C, but lime contains five times more of this vitamin than lemon. Lime contains folic acid, but lemon does not. Folic acid participates in the development of circulatory and immune systems, consuming lime is especially important during pregnancy, when the fetus is developing. Lime also helps with toxicosis.

It has a beneficial effect on the excitability of the nervous system, has a calming effect, relieves fatigue and irritability. Fresh juice lime with glass warm water on an empty stomach, helps burn excess fat.

Contraindications

Lemon and lime have restrictions on consumption:

gastritis;
pancreatitis;

You should be attentive to contraindications when eating citrus fruits

gastrointestinal ulcers;
acute nephritis, colitis, enteritis;
individual intolerance.

Advice. A cut lemon very quickly loses its beneficial properties, as well as during heat treatment. It is recommended to use fresh citrus fruits.

Use in cooking

Lemon juice is poured over fish (especially fatty types), dressed in salads, and served with barbecue. Lime and lemon are used in making cocktails. Mojito with lime is very popular. Both zest and pulp are used in baked goods. Candied fruits are made from the zest and added to teas in dried form.

Lemon and lime are used both for preparing main dishes and in desserts and drinks

Lime works great with red pepper. It is used everywhere in Asian cuisine. Lemon is used to season food before serving to preserve the citrus flavor, and lime is added at any stage.

To extract the maximum juice from a citrus fruit, roll the fruit on the table, pressing firmly on it. It will become softer and release juice easily. Freeze the juice in the refrigerator, add it to water or mineral water and delight your body with a tasty and healthy drink.

What you need to know about lime: video

What is the difference between lime and lemon: photo

Well, who doesn't love citrus fruits? They have a sour taste and unforgettable aroma, they are added to meat and fish dishes, drinks, desserts. When cooking, we most often use lime, but its brother is more popular abroad - green lime. Is it worth paying more and buying it? Or is it better to opt for a regular lemon? We will talk about this in our article.

Lemon and lime: what is the difference, the difference

First of all, let's talk about the general features. Both fruits are citrus fruits and contain large amounts of vitamin C. They also have sour taste and bright, with nothing incomparable aroma. In addition to vitamin C, fruits contain essential oils and fiber.

Both citrus fruits have approximately the same nutritional value(calorie content). Both lemon and lime have 30 calories per 100 grams and 2.8 grams of fiber. Despite this, limes contain slightly more carbohydrates and less protein.

What is the difference between lime and lemon? Despite the presence of common features, citrus fruits have many significant differences, which we will talk about right now:

External difference. It is unlikely that you will confuse lemon and lime, because they are visually different. Lemons are larger and yellow in color. Limes can be recognized by their small size and green or dark yellow color. The peel is also different, and the lemon peel is thicker and tougher.

Growing in different regions. Lemon is grown in subtropical regions, and lime is grown in tropical regions with more humidity. Lemon trees are several times taller (7-8 meters), lime trees reach a height of about two meters. The advantage of lime trees is that they bear fruit throughout the year, unlike lemon trees (only once a year).

Taste qualities . Even though both fruits have a sour taste and similar aroma, they are still different. What they have in common is that they are both sour. Lime can be recognized by its sharper, bitter taste. It is unlikely that you will want to eat a lime wedge plain or with sugar, like lemon, which has more mild taste. That is why limes are most often used for preparing dishes and drinks.

Acidity . Even though both fruits have similar acid levels, they are still different. The acidity of lemon juice is between 2 and 2.6, and that of lime juice is between 2 and 2.35.

Useful properties. Did you know that lemon contains much more vitamin C? How much exactly? 100 grams of lemon contains about 53 mg of vitamin C, and 100 grams of lime contains only 29 mg, almost half as much.

Use in cooking. Limes can't be added to every dish because of their strong taste. Lemon is more versatile; it is added to tea and coffee, salad dressings, sauces, baked goods and desserts, meat, fish, and seafood dishes.

Lime is most often added to dishes asian cuisine, Latin America, in alcoholic and not only cocktails, in some desserts. It is used to prepare such famous cocktails as Mojito and Margarita.

Lemon and lemon juice It is added not at the beginning, but at the very end of cooking. This is explained by the fact that with prolonged heat treatment it loses its properties and taste qualities. But its green counterpart can be added at any time - both at the beginning and at the end of cooking.

Storage conditions. If you're looking for a citrus fruit that will last as long as possible, choose lemon. Lime will remain fresh in the refrigerator for only a couple of weeks, but its yellow counterpart will stay fresh for a couple of months.

Is it possible to replace lemon with lime?

We recommend sticking to the recipe and not trying to replace one citrus fruit with another. Why? This will affect the taste of the dish. By adding the wrong fruit, you risk ruining the dish, so it is better not to experiment and follow the recommendations presented in the recipe. If you decide to substitute, keep in mind that lime juice is more concentrated and you will need less of it.