Vietnamese lime likened to 'green gold' in New Zealand

Because lime cannot be grown in New Zealand, one kilogram of the citrus in the country usually costs more than NZD50 (US$31.17 or VND700,000). Vietnamese limes are popular at thriving New Zealand hotels and restaurants.

New Zealanders also love other tropical fruits from Vietnam. "I hope to see Vietnamese passion fruit in New Zealand’s supermarkets and restaurants," New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam Tredene Dobson told VnExpress on the sidelines of the Flavors Vietnam food festival held in mid-March.

New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam Trendene Dobson. Photo courtesy of New Zealand Embassy

Last year, New Zealand started importing citrus, typically pomelos and limes, from Vietnam, in addition to local fruits already popular in the country such as dragon fruit and rambutan.

Two-way trade between the nations, which reached over $1.3 billion in 2021 and $1.23 billion in the first 10 months of 2022, is expected to surge to $2 billion in 2024, according to official Vietnamese statistics.