Spanish Lime fruit

Spanish lime or Melicoccus bijugatus, is a fruit-bearing tree in the soapberry family Sapindaceae. It is  native to northern South America and naturalized in coastal and dry forest in Central America, the Caribbean and parts of the Old World tropics. The fruit, somewhat like a cross between a lychee and a lime, has a tight and thin, but rigid layer of skin, traditionally opened by biting into with the teeth.

These fruits may contribute to their therapeutic uses, especially for gastrointestinal problems.

• Spanish lime is eaten fresh by popping the fruit out of the peel and chewing the juicy pulp off the seed.
• One can make juice, jam, jelly, and a liquor called “bilí”.
• The seeds are reportedly edible, but are very astringent.
• The ground, roasted seeds are used medicinally as a treatment for diarrhea.
• It contains good amount protein, calcium, phosphorous, iron, carotene, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin C.
• These fruits may contribute to their therapeutic uses, especially for gastrointestinal problems.

Image credit; https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Melicoccus_bijugatus,_Fruit_on_white_background.jpg