📸 Photo Gallery

All photographs are from Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons licenses. Click any image to view the original on Wikimedia Commons.

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Fruit & Rind

Fresh Kaffir Limes

The distinctive bumpy, wrinkled rind. Photo: Mokkie (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Rind Close-Up

The thick, aromatic rind used in curry pastes and essential oil extraction. (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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Leaves & Tree

Double-Lobed Leaves

The iconic winged petiole that looks like two leaves. Photo: Herusutimbul (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Fruit on the Tree

Missouri Botanical Garden specimen. Photo: James Steakley (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Mature Tree

Dense, bushy growth habit. Can reach 2–10 meters. Photo: Tangmo (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Growth Habit & Thorns

Winged branches and sharp thorns visible. Photo: Forest & Kim Starr (CC BY 3.0)

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Flowers & Pollination

Bee Pollination

Kaffir lime flowers are highly attractive to bees. The honey produced is prized for its citrusy flavor. (CC BY 2.0)

🌸 Flower Facts

Kaffir lime flowers are small (2–3 cm), white, and intensely fragrant. They bloom in clusters and are pollinated primarily by bees. A single tree can produce hundreds of flowers, but only a small fraction develop into fruit.

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Botanical Illustrations

18th-Century Illustration

Detailed drawing showing leaves, flowers, and fruit cross-section. From Duhamel's botanical treatise. (Public Domain)

Historical Botanical Plate

Another view from Duhamel's treatise showing the plant's growth habit. (Public Domain)

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In the Kitchen

Tom Yum Soup

Classic Thai soup infused with kaffir lime leaves. Photo: cyclonebill (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Phanaeng Curry

Rich coconut curry with kaffir lime leaves as a key aromatic. (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Thai Herb-Stuffed Fish

Fresh fish infused with kaffir lime leaves, lemongrass, and galangal. (CC BY-SA 3.0)

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Cultural Uses

Phuang Malai (Thai Garland)

Flower garlands used in Thai temples and spirit houses. Kaffir lime leaves are sometimes included for their fragrance. (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Bangkok Flower Market

Pak Khlong Talat — Bangkok's famous flower market where garlands for temples and ceremonies are made. (CC BY 2.0)

🕯️ Cultural Context

Throughout Southeast Asia, kaffir lime is woven into daily spiritual life. From Thai spirit houses to Indonesian jamu vendors, from Filipino hilot healers to Lao baci ceremonies — the plant transcends its culinary role to become a symbol of protection, healing, and cultural identity.

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Traditional Medicine

Jamu Vendor (Yogyakarta)

Traditional Indonesian herbal medicine vendor. Kaffir lime (jeruk purut) is a key ingredient in many jamu recipes. (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Jamu Herbal Preparations

Bottles of traditional Indonesian herbal tonics. Kaffir lime rind and leaves are common ingredients. (CC BY-SA 4.0)

🏥 Traditional Medicine Systems

Kaffir lime appears in multiple traditional medicine systems: Jamu (Indonesia), Thai traditional medicine, Hilot (Philippines), Kru Khmer (Cambodia), and Malay ubat. In each system, the leaves, rind, and juice are used for different therapeutic purposes — from digestive relief to spiritual cleansing.