Black lime

Dried, ground black Persian limes

Whole loomi for sale in market in Manama, Bahrain

Black Lime (also known as Dried Lime, Loomi, Lumi, Noomi Basra, Omani, Amani and Black Lemon) is a spice used in Middle Eastern dishes. It is made by boiling fresh lime in salt water and sun drying until the insides turn black. The outside color varies from tan to black. It is sold whole or ground.

Uses

Black limes are usually used in legume, seafood or meat dishes. They are pierced, peeled or crushed before adding them to the dish. After cooking they become softer and edible. They can also be powdered and added to rice dishes. Powdered black lime is also used as an ingredient in Gulf-style baharat (a spice mixture which is also called kabsa or kebsa). It is a traditional ingredient of Arabic cooking and also Persian.

Flavor

Black limes are strongly flavored. They taste sour and citrusy like a lime but they also taste somewhat smoky and lack the sweetness of fresh limes. Because they are preserved they also have a slightly bitter, fermented flavor, but the bitter accents are mainly concentrated in the lime's outer skin.

External links

• Spice Pages: Lime
• Black Lemons