The finger lime – citrus australasica –is Australia’s unique native citrus, it is found in the wild only in and about the sub-tropical rainforests of south-east Queensland and the northern rivers of New South Wales. It is the longest used citrus and its pearls (vesicles) are a superfood. The pearls were consumed as a health protective food and the skins were used medicinally by indigenous Australian peoples for some 50,000 years before the citron was introduced into the Mediterranean region about 2,500 years ago.
Agrifutures Australia recently estimated that about 100 tonnes of finger limes were produced in 2023 by 70 growers and that there would be an 8% increase in production by 2025, along with more growers entering the industry. Most growers have less than 1000 trees.
