Brazil registers first domestically developed caviar lime cultivar

Brazil’s state of São Paulo has registered the country’s first caviar lime variety in the National Register of Cultivars. The Faustrime cultivar, developed by the Agronomic Institute (IAC), was registered in 2023 and is expected to reach the market later this year. Faustrime is a hybrid of the Australian finger lime (Microcitrus australasica) and the Eustis limequat.

Originally from Australia, caviar lime is used in haute cuisine because its pulp consists of small vesicles rather than juice. “Unlike other citrus fruits, caviar doesn’t contain juice, which is why it’s used in haute cuisine as a finishing touch to recipes,” said IAC researcher Marinês Bastianel. “Its pulp has small vesicles that resemble caviar, and when consumed, they burst in the mouth, releasing a slightly acidic flavor. The colors of the peel and pulp can vary in shades of brown, yellow, pink, green, and red.”

The IAC says the Faustrime cultivar could provide an option for Brazilian producers targeting niche markets, with marketing expected to focus on major Brazilian cities. Outside Brazil, consumption already takes place in the European Union, the U.S., and Japan.

The cultivar was selected from the Citrus Germplasm Bank at the IAC Citrus Center in Cordeirópolis, São Paulo. The collection contains around 1,700 genetic materials from different countries.

According to Bastianel, Faustrime begins producing from the second year after planting, with production potential increasing from the fourth year onwards.

The species is also being studied in breeding programs. Research conducted in different countries indicates that species of the genus Microcitrus exhibit tolerance to citrus greening.