Mistletoe and limes

Season’s greetings take a turn for the citrussy, as Toby preps for next year’s presents… Yes, you read that right!

- Toby Buckland

I’VE learnt the hard way that choosing other people’s presents based on what I want ends in disappointment. Two years later, and Lisa still hasn’t taken her adjustable spanner out of the box. Rude!

Of course, the best gifts are those that go on giving, and for plant lovers something rare and tasty such as my recently acquired finger lime tree will always be a win.

Just like the orange of Christingle and the lemons of St Clemons, it fruits through the Yule, but instead of golden or amber baubles its branches carry an abundance of elfin green lanterns the size and shape of a lozenge.

Like cherries and raspberries, they are what’s known as ‘non-climacteric’, meaning they don’t ripen once picked. But wait until they come away from the thorny branches with the slightest touch, and they’re packed with sparkling fleshy pearls of flavour that pop deliciously on the tongue. The taste is amazing – like an aromatic-packed gin and tonic with a Key lime pie twist at the end.