Dong Hai Organic Lime Garden Introduction
In the coastal area of Zhubei, following the signs for Provincial Highway 15 West Coastal Road and turning into Gang'an Street, you will find the Donghai Lime Garden surrounded by rice fields and green hedges, where more than a hundred fruit trees are planted. From June to October each year is the peak season for limes, and the green fruits can be harvested as they slowly turn yellow on the branches. During this time, the garden opens for visitors to make reservations for fruit picking. A healthy lime tree can produce about 200 limes. Although the popularity of limes is not as high as that of lemons in Taiwan, the fruits from Donghai Lime Garden are large, with thick skin and plenty of flesh, and they are naturally non-toxic and edible whole, which often attracts tourists from afar to experience the joy of fruit picking. In addition to fruit picking, visitors will be guided to the "Lime Vinegar Vault" located in the basement, where hundreds of jars of fruit vinegar from different years are stored, including aged vinegar that has been brewed for 20 years. The warm and mellow flavor of this "black gold" makes it a priceless treasure of the lime garden. Visitors can reserve DIY lime vinegar courses. The flavor of lime vinegar mainly comes from the maturation of lime fruits and rice vinegar; the raw materials and method are simple. You only need to wash one organic lime thoroughly, let it dry completely, cut off the ends, and slice it into 6 to 8 pieces. Finally, the fruit slices are combined with rock sugar and rice vinegar in a 1:1:1 ratio and placed in a clean glass jar. After resting in a cool place for more than a year, it achieves the best flavor. After bringing the lime vinegar home, visitors can observe the color change daily and occasionally shake the bottle to ensure all lime slices are fully immersed in the vinegar liquid, which prevents the fruit from spoiling. As the soaking time increases, the lime's acidity will become milder, leaving a rich flavor in the fruit vinegar. Lime vinegar is an alkaline food, gentle and not pungent, and it can be diluted with water or mixed with honey or brown sugar to enhance its flavor, suitable for both cold and warm drinks. Impatient visitors can also purchase bottled lime vinegar, as well as various related products like dried limes and lime juice ice cubes, which are great for gifts or personal use. Entry to Donghai Lime Garden is free, and fruit picking is charged based on the weight of the harvested fruit, requiring advance phone reservations. Due to the natural environment of the orchard, it is recommended to wear comfortable walking shoes and prepare sunscreen and anti-mosquito products to fully enjoy the experience of wandering through the lime garden and picking fruits.
