Welcome to Waterhole – Australia’s emerging mixers brand who is celebrating Australian native ingredients in our drinks.
Today, I bring you the Finger Lime! The premier flavour within our Waterhole Native Citrus Tonic Water. These amazing little fruits are delightful, familiar and unique all in one.
If you’ve not seen finger limes before, as the name suggests they’re about the size of a finger and have a flavour like limes. This magnificent fruit can be found in the wild in the rainforest regions of south east Queensland and the northern rivers of New South Wales. Inside the skin of the finger lime are hundreds of juice-filled pearls. Their colour and taste differs naturally from one variety to another.
The fruit of a rare rainforest tree, the Finger Lime has been a valuable source of food and medicine for thousands of years. Finger limes are high in vitamin C, folate and antioxidants. The fruit was eaten for its delicious taste and its ability to ward off disease. The pulp and juice of Finger Limes were also applied as an antiseptic to infected sores and boils. I’m told from one our local elders that in the places where Finger Limes historically grew, they were used by parents as a treat for the kids – as you can eat them straight off the tree with skin and all.
The mature Finger Lime is a joy to behold. It comes in a wide range of colours, such as green, yellow, purple, pink and bright red. When sliced open, it reveals ‘caviar like’ pearls, which are filled with lemon-lime juice.
With a delicious aroma of fresh, zesty citrus and a hint of cooked apples, the taste of the Finger Lime is tart with some astringency and bitterness. The pulp contains juice vesicles that resemble caviar. These caviar-like pearls make Finger Lime a popular garnish.
The pearls are perfect for sprinkling on top of your favourite G&T with Waterhole Native Citrus Tonic, for a bold burst of flavour.
