Kaffir limes ... is it racist to call them that?

[Jingthing]

What do they call Brazil nuts, in Brazil?

castanhas-do-Pará (literally "chestnuts from Pará")

The main source of Brazil nuts is actually BOLIVIA.

[attrayant]

Why not just call them lime leaves?

As for the fungus, I've always called it wood ear. I never heard jew's ear until this thread but I admit it did make me wince. But for some reason I'm perfectly okay with jew's harp.

There will always be people looking for insults where none were intended. I call them the offenderati. No matter how carefully you couch your words, they'll imagine some insensitive remark and blow it up out of all proportion to its context. Don't live your life to please people like that.

[Jingthing]

Lime leaves isn't specific enough, I reckon. The flavor of the kaffir lime leaves specifically is what you need for many Thai dishes.