これまで数年間育ててきて、今年初めて1個だけ実がついたリックスレッド。果皮が赤くなってきたので完熟かな、と思いました。
I have been growing this Rick's Red finger lime for several years now. This summer, I saw a fruit on the plant for the first time. The skin has turned purplish red which made me think that it is probably ripe.
I consume the limequat one or two a day to drink it like lemon squash. I hear that you need to take in a tiny bit of Vitamin C every day since your body cannot produce it. However, any surplus intake will be passed out. So, these small fruits are quite handy.
左から、リックスレッド、ミアローズ、実生白実、キンカンライム。ミアローズと実生白実は比較のためにバルコニーから採ってきました。
柑橘類は臭いからして嫌いなタイガ。一瞬臭い嗅ぎしたあとは顔を背けました。
Taiga hates the smell of citrus fruits. She took a sniff and turned her head away.
From left, Rick's Red, Mia rose, white seedling, and limequat. I wanted to compare Rick's Red with the other two varieties.
キンカンライムは苗が充実してからは大実金柑ほどになりました。
As the limequat plant matured, it started to produce larger fruits than before. Here in the photo, the fruit is above 4 cm long.
フィンガーライムのほうは、左から、リックスレッド、ミアローズ、実生白実です。リックスレッドはまだ完熟ではなかったようですが、それより落胆した原因は、粒々の形状がミカンの細胞に似て、長め且つヒゲまでついている。対して、ミアローズと実生白実は丸い粒で美しい。今後を考えると、うちにはダラムズエメラルド、ミアローズ、白実実生、そしてニューイエローがあれば十分です（ただし、ニューイエローに関しては未熟果しか見ていないので、ちゃんと黄色であることを前提に）。
As above, from left to right, Rick's Red, Mia Rose, and white seedling. It seems that Rick's Red was not ripe yet, but what disappointed me was the fact the flesh looks similar to that of tangerine. In contrast, the flesh of Mia Rose and white seedling looks beautiful like round pebbles. Going forward, I think it is enough to have Durham's Emerald, Mia Rose, white seedling, and New Yellow (assuming that New Yellow's flesh is indeed yellow - I picked the fruits too early and could not confirm the potential colour).
フィンガーライムは強烈な風味なので、用途が限られてきます。ミアローズと実生白実を、今日は試しに大根にまぶしてみました。大根はスライスしたあと水に晒してスターチを取り除く、塩でもんで一部水分を抜く、それを米酢・水あめ・塩で作った甘酢であえる。フィンガーライムの風味が大根のクセをカバーして爽やかになりました。白いご飯との相性が良かったです。
Due to the unique flavour and taste, I feel finger lime's usage is somewhat limited. Today, I tried it with pickled white radish. To prepare the radish, slice it into paper thin sheets, leave in cold water in order to remove the starch, strain the water and rub salt into the radish slices, strain, and mix with sweet and sour dressing made with rice vinegar, starch syrup and salt. It turned out that finger lime was a good addition to the radish, giving it a fresh flavour.
