Flavour quality of dehydrated lime [Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.) Swingle]

The hydro-distilled volatile oils of fresh and dehydrated lime [Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.) Swingle] fruit were subjected to GC and GC–MS. A total of 32 compounds, constituting > 98% of the volatiles of fresh lime fruit, were identified. Five sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and two sesquiterpene alcohols were found and identified for the first time in lime fruit. The volatiles from the dehydrated (∼5% moisture) lime fruit on GC–MS analysis, showed marginal quantitative changes in composition of terpene hydrocarbons, alcohols and esters, but rest of the aldehydes decreased in concentrations compared to those in the fresh lime fruit.