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Kaffir Lime Leaves seem to be a common ingredient in Thai food, particularly coconut based dishes. I have never seen them in Atlanta, and I've looked (farmers market, whole foods, normal grocery, but not an Asian grocery store). What is the flavor profile of these leaves? Is there a good substitute?

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    Is there a reason you haven't looked at the Asian grocery? I find in the UK at least they have what I'm looking for and also stock tonnes of other things I didn't know I was looking for, until I saw them!
    – vwiggins
    Commented Oct 18, 2010 at 11:27
  • @vwiggins, The asian grocery stores in Atlanta are 45 mins drive from my house in an area of town I never visit.
    – yossarian
    Commented Oct 18, 2010 at 13:31
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    an intriguing comment, from a sociological perspective...
    – Doug
    Commented Mar 10, 2011 at 13:28
  • @doug, Ha. Another way of putting it would be that I live downtown and the asian grocery stores are in the suburbs. I don't go anywhere 45 mins from my house.
    – yossarian
    Commented Mar 10, 2011 at 14:40
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    There is an asian grocery store over by the Dekalb farmer's market. You might also try the Indian stores just south of North Dekalb Mall. As far as living downtown and not going to the Atlanta suburb, I strongly concur. I only cross 285 in a plane.
    – Dave Griffith
    Commented Aug 15, 2011 at 22:49

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I wouldn't attempt to substitute. I've read somewhere that you can use regular lime leaves, but I've never seen those anywhere. Even Googling for lime leaf turns up kaffir lime leaves.

They can be found easily enough online: ImportFood.com. They freeze well for months in just a zip-lock bag.

The flavor profile is best described as a bright floral aromatic. It's similar in function, not taste, to a bay leaf. Thai cuisine uses kaffir lime leaves much as we do bay leaves.

If you decide buying online isn't worth the hassle, then Kitchen Savvy suggests the following substitute:

  • 1/2 a small bay leaf
  • 1/4 tsp of lime zest
  • 1/8 tsp of fresh lemon thyme
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I agree that there is no true substitute, but if I were going to try, I'd use the zest of 1 lime for every 2 kaffir lime leaves. I wouldn't do the bay leaf or lemon thyme suggested above.

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    I absolutely concur with not using lemon thyme.
    – Arafangion
    Commented Jan 21, 2011 at 11:18
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They used to sell them all the time at the Buford Hwy Farmer's Market (Buford Hwy & I-285), but have gone home empty handed that last few times I've looked. Last time I bought them was sometime this spring. The Atlanta Farmer's Market used to have them, but they've closed. 99 Ranch Market is closed. Java did not have them. Rumor has it that Your Debalb Farmer's Market might have them.

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There's the option of using Kaffir Lime essential oil - it is the best substitute I know of, much better than the dried Kaffir Lime leaves we can get around here (Israel). It is truly wonderful.

Here's the one I use:

http://thaifoodessentials.com/buy/

It's quite cheap and lasts for a long time (you only need a few drops per dish). The website also has some instructions on how to use it, but generally, you want to add it towards the end of cooking, close to serving.

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Just an FYI, I have been to Asian stores that used to carry Kaffir lime leafs. They no longer stock them due to FDA (USA) import rules or so the owner told me. He suggested calamansi limes.

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I used to buy curry and kaffir lime leaves at the DeKalb farmer's mkt (Atlanta), but have been told recently that the USDA has banned import in attempt to preempt certain microbes, bacteria, diseases. Dunno what that is really about. In the end, they are no longer available there. However, if you live in a tropical, sub-tropical latitude, you can grow your own.

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I found them in Wegmans, and I've seen them in a couple of supermarkets - but just in a jar in oil. Similar to a small jar of thai curry paste. Same size, labeling, etc.

Not how I expected to find them, so be on the look-out.

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  • I've gotten jarred kafir leaves, and though they do seem to have a lot of flavor, I'm not sure how much of it's coming from the leaves or the liquid they're in. They do seem to go bad pretty quickly once opened, even when refrigerated.
    – Doug Kavendek
    Commented Nov 4, 2012 at 18:04
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I bought mine from Amazon.com.

I'd found that there are different types of Asian grocery stores, and not all cater to all types of cooking. For instance, Philipino stores don't necessarily carry what a Thai recipe may require. So, even if you were to venture out, (Doug must not have driven in Atlanta) you couldn't assume they'd have what you're looking for.

Go mail order.

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    I ended up going one further and mail ordered a whole tree. It's growing nicely in my yard.
    – yossarian
    Commented May 18, 2011 at 12:40
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I think lemongrass has a similar super floral citrusy flavor.

Maybe lemongrass with a little lime zest.

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  • Lemon grass has a very different flavor to the kaffir lime leaf (and besides, is already a part of most thai curries).
    – Arafangion
    Commented Jan 21, 2011 at 11:19

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