{{Short description|Citrus fruit and plant}} {{Use Oxford spelling|date=June 2020}} {{Speciesbox |image = Citrus limetta.jpeg |genus = Citrus |species = limetta |authority = 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 lemons. It is small and round, like a common lime.<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 the southern regions of Iran<ref>{{Cite web |title=Citrus x limon var. limetta (CIDLM)[Overview]{{!}} EPPO Global Database |url=https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/CIDLM |access-date=2026-01-19 |website=gd.eppo.int}}</ref><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> 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 limes such as the Key lime and the Persian lime. However, genomic analysis revealed that it is highly similar to Rhobs el Arsa, and the two likely represent progeny of distinct crosses involving 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). * 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, ''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, ''musambi'' ({{lang|kn|ಮೂಸಂಬಿ}}) in Kannada, ''battayi'' ({{lang|te|బత్తాయి}}) in 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). * In Nepali, it is called ''mausam''. * In Pakistan, it is usually called ''meetha'' ({{lang|ur|{{nastaliq|میٹھا}}}}) in Urdu and ''mitha'' ({{nq|مٹھا}}) in Punjabi. * In 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 and in Costa Rica, it is called ''limón dulce'', ''lima dulce'', ''dulce limeta'', or ''limettioides dulces'', because of the sweetness of 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 is commonly confused with dishes such as Sopa de lima, which is 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 petioles are narrowly but distinctly winged, and are {{convert|8|-|29|mm|in|abbr=on}} long. Leaves are compound, with acuminate leaflets {{convert|50|-|170|mm|in|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|28|-|89|mm|in|abbr=on}} wide. Flowers are white, {{convert|20|-|30|mm|in|abbr=on}} wide. Fruits 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 tropical and subtropical climates. It begins bearing fruit at 5 to 7 years old, with peak production at 10 to 20 years. It is 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 when exposed to air, and will turn bitter in a 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 a good mixer for vodka or rum. It is the most common citrus juice available 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 home remedy to treat influenza and the common cold.

The tree is used for ornamental purposes as well as for 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 has hard 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 limetta