Lynn Smythe
Herb Review - Kaffir Lime (LINK)
January 1st 2008 17:33
Kaffir Lime Leaves
Kaffir Lime Leaves
The leaves of the kaffir lime tree are dark green and glossy and have an unique shape due to the presence of winged petioles which look similar to the leaves themselves. The presence of the petioles make each leaf look like a double leaf and distinguish it from other species of lime leaves. Kaffir lime leaves can be used fresh, frozen or dried in a variety of culinary creations. Although the fresh leaves will last a few weeks when stored in the refrigerator I prefer to use them within a few days of picking them for the best flavor. If you have an over abundance of fresh leaves you can store them in a resealable plastic bag in the freezer for a few months. Just remove whatever quantity of leaves needed for your recipe and use as you would the fresh leaves. You can sometimes find small packages or bottles of the dried leaves available for sale but as they are not very aromatic try to use the fresh or frozen leaves whenever possible.
Kaffir Lime Fruits
The fruits of the kaffir lime tree are rather insignificant looking compared to the fruit of other species of lime tree. They are approximately the size of a golf ball and have very lumpy, bumpy skin. The rind of these fruits can be used for a variety of culinary purposes such as being ground in a mortar and pestle along with other spices to make a green curry paste which is used in certain Asian style culinary recipes. The zest from the rind should be used fresh whenever possible as the preserved fruit rind has an inferior taste and aroma. The extremely bitter and sour juice of the fruit is generally not used for culinary purposes although it may be used in certain cosmetic preparations.
Cosmetic Uses of Kaffir Lime
The juice of the kaffir lime fruit is supposed to make an excellent hair tonic and can be used in shampoos as an anti-dandruff formula. A ¼ cup of the freshly squeezed juice can be mixed with two cups of spring water and used as a rinse to help prevent your hair from falling out. Another natural cosmetic use of the juice is as a tooth and gum cleanser which will help prevent gingivitis.
I've come across a few natural beauty aids containing kaffir lime such as a bath scrub and body lotion which both claim to have detoxifying properties. The other ingredients included in these personal spa items were lemon grass and mint. The lemon grass and kaffir lime were touted as being antibacterial to help cleanse and purify your skin while the mint would leave your skin with a fresh, clean scent. For an invigorating personal spa treatment you could try placing approximately ¼ cup of the bath scrub in a small bowl and adding just enough water to form a thick paste. Use this paste while taking a bath or shower and scrub it all over your body. Follow your bath treatment with a light application of the body lotion to impart a radiant, healthy glow to your skin.
In addition, the juice of the kaffir lime fruits can be used as a natural and mild bleach which helps to remove stains in clothing and other laundry items. Mix approximately ¼ cup of the juice with 1 cup of laundry detergent and store in a small, nonmetallic container. Use this mixture as a pretreatment stain remover whenever necessary.
The entire article, The Exotic Kaffir Lime, can be found on the Associated Content website.
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