Fruit
Wild Kaffir Lime
A tier
Wild kaffir/makrut lime refers to less intensively selected seedling or feral C. hystrix—leaves still double-lobed and highly aromatic, fruit variable in size and seed load. Oils can be especially pungent. Foraging or village trees supply local kitchens without clonal names. Taste leaves for intensity before dumping handfuls into a small soup. Zest carefully. Seedling rootstocks and wildings may be thornier or more alternate-bearing. Dry spare leaves in shade for rainy-season cooking.
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Characteristics
Preparations
Traits
History
Wild and semi-wild C. hystrix stands supplied leaves before nursery clones.
Village home gardens kept seedling makrut for daily cooking.
Wild-type intensity was noted by chefs comparing plantation leaves.
Foragers and permaculture growers valued wild-type aroma.