Black Lime (Loomi)

Limu Omani (also known as: black lime or loomi) is a traditional condiment of Persian cuisine, and the Middle East in general, found in many dishes.

It is also used in spice blend design, for example in the famous baharat spice blend, advieh khoresh and for flavouring beverages, especially tea.

At the base, it is a lime, put in brine then dried.

Indeed, we put the fresh limes to boil in salt water for 5 min.

They are then allowed to dry naturally on the dunes, placed in the sun on a carpet of banana leaves for several weeks. While drying, it’s very thin bark takes a colour between the light brown or dark green, black.

The fruit becomes dry and brittle once dried and becomes very light.

What is its flavor? Drying concentrates and exacerbates the taste of citrus fruit. On the nose, the scents are characteristic of lime, fresh, powerful and concentrated. Once the citrus crushed, the aromas become sweeter, reminiscent of candied citrus such as kumquat or Tangerine, with subtle touches smoked, fermented and "metallic". In the mouth, the attack is characteristic of citrus, fragrant and slightly acidic, giving way to a sweet taste reminiscent of fresh candies. The bitter side of the fruit is found mainly in the bark and pips that are not recommended to eat.

There are two methods of drying, which gives two different limu Omani: - With brine bath: this gives us a very black lime, brilliant, dry and brittle outside. They are less acidic. - The limes dried on the lime tree: by letting the ripe fruit dry on the tree, they take a brown colour, and keep their very lemony and acidic flavor.

To reduce them to powder: cut them in half, remove all bitter pips, and crush the black lemons in a coffee grinder, mortar or blender until you get a fine powder. Ground the limu Omani at the last moment, because the lime loses quickly in flavor and properties, personally i avoid buying it already ground.

Powdered, you can use it for any kind of recipe.

It is added at the beginning, middle or end of cooking to preserve more of its aroma.

Like all citrus fruits, dried lemons are also used in desserts, ice cream and soft drinks.