KEY LIME (Citrus Aurantifolia)
KAFFIR / LEPROUS LIME (Citrus Hystrix)
PERSIAN / TAHITIAN LIME (Citrus Latifolia)
Limes belong to the group of citrus fruits that require plenty of water and year round warmth. The trees can grow from 1.5 m to 6 m tall. The most common species grown mainly for juice and for products that use lime extract is the Persian lime. The Kaffir Lime (easily recognized by the wrinkled outlook of the lime skin) is grown mainly in South East Asia and the leaves are used in cooking, particularly in Thai cuisine. The juice of the kaffir lime had also been used as a hair rinse and insect repellent. In the Middle East, limes are dried and added to stews. In Indian cuisine, limes are used in chutneys and pickles.
Limes are believed to be native to southern India or the northern end of the Persian Gulf. Key Lime was brought westward by the Arab conquerors of the Middle Ages. Columbus included lime among the citrus fruits that he brought to the island of Hispaniola on his second voyage in 1493, and they quickly established themselves in the Caribbean. The Persian lime was introduced to the West from Persia in the 19th century. The color of the fruit can range from being brilliant green to a lemon yellow color.
Do you know … in the old days, Key Lime is provided by the British navy to its sailors to protect against scurvy. The role of citrus in preventing scurvy had been known in England since 1593 but it was not until 1747 that Dr James Lind discovered that lime work just as well as lemons. So from that time, rations of lime juice were handed out with rum, and the British abroad became known as “limeys”.
Limes are believed to be native to southern India or the northern end of the Persian Gulf. Key Lime was brought westward by the Arab conquerors of the Middle Ages. Columbus included lime among the citrus fruits that he brought to the island of Hispaniola on his second voyage in 1493, and they quickly established themselves in the Caribbean. The Persian lime was introduced to the West from Persia in the 19th century. The color of the fruit can range from being brilliant green to a lemon yellow color.
Do you know … in the old days, Key Lime is provided by the British navy to its sailors to protect against scurvy. The role of citrus in preventing scurvy had been known in England since 1593 but it was not until 1747 that Dr James Lind discovered that lime work just as well as lemons. So from that time, rations of lime juice were handed out with rum, and the British abroad became known as “limeys”.