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Limes - The Best Citrus

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic (by 21 people)   Your rating: 1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic

Ranked #560 in Food, #11114 overall

Rated G. (Control what you see)

Limes Can Rock Your World

 

Okay, maybe the rest of the world thinks of oranges or lemons first when they think of citrus. Not me. For me it is limes. I love their color, their flavor, everything. They look cool and they taste even better. Want to learn more? Follow along with me...

Lime - Defined 

Wikipedia's View On Limes

Lime is a term referring to a number of different fruits (generally citruses), both species and hybrids, which are typically round, green to yellow in color, 3?6 cm in diameter, generally containing sour pulp, and frequently associated with the lemon. Limes are often used to accent the flavors of foods and beverages. They are usually smaller than lemons, and a great source of vitamin c

Sweet Treats With Lime 

Flathau's Fine Foods Gourmet Cookies, Key Lime Snaps, 16-Ounce Can

B000EN2WIQ

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Butterfields Candy, Key Lime Buds, 3-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 24)

B000FKQBGC

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Lovely Limes In Photos 

Lime by libraryman

cutting limes by Zen Me

Lime cut by atranswe

summer sky, with a slice of lime, please by MissyV110

Sliced Lime by Kalamakia

Limes 1/2 by Eduardo Cavasotti

Do Limes Cure Scurvy? (And, What Is Scurvy?) 

Definition From Wikipedia

Scurvy (N.Lat. scorbutus) is a deficiency disease that results from insufficient intake of vitamin C, which is required for correct collagen synthesis in humans. The scientific name of vitamin C, ascorbic acid, is derived from the Latin name of scurvy, scorbutus. Scurvy leads to the formation of liver spots on the skin, spongy gums, and bleeding from all mucous membranes. The spots are most abundant on the thighs and legs, and a person with the ailment looks pale, feels depressed, and is partially immobilized. In advanced scurvy there are open, suppurating wounds and loss of teeth.

Scurvy was at one time common among sailors, pirates and others who were on ships that were out to sea longer than perishable fruits and vegetables could be stored and by soldiers who were similarly separated from these foods for extended periods.

Scurvy was probably first observed as a disease by Hippocrates.[4] In the 13th century the Crusaders suffered from scurvy frequently, and it has inflicted terrible losses on both besieged and besieger in times of war. Scurvy was one of the limiting factors of marine travel, often killing large numbers of the passengers and crew on long-distance voyages. It even played a significant role in World War I.

The British civilian medical profession of 1614 knew that it was the acidic principle of citrus fruit which was lacking, although they considered any acid as acceptable when ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) was unavailable. In 1614 John Woodall (Surgeon General of the East India Company) published his book "The Surgion's Mate" as a handbook for apprentice surgeons aboard the company's ships. In it he described scurvy as resulting from a dietary deficiency. His recommendation for its cure was fresh food or, if not available, oranges, lemons, limes and tamarinds, or as a last resort, Oil of Vitriol (sulfuric acid).[5]

In 1734, the Leiden-based physician Johann Bachstrom published a book on scurvy in which he stated that "scurvy is solely owing to a total abstinence from fresh vegetable food, and greens; which is alone the primary cause of the disease." and urged the use of fresh fruit and vegetables as a cure. However, it was not until 1747 that James Lind formally proved that scurvy could be treated and prevented by supplementing the diet with citrus fruit such as lemons and lime.

(...from Wikipedia)

International Scurvy Awareness Day 


Did you know that May 2nd is Scurvy Awareness Day? Yep, it sure is. Check out the LimeStrong website for loads of great information on everything you could want to know about scurvy, limes, and other cool stuff.

My thanks to Lynley, of the CalypsoNuts for letting me know about this great website.

Lime Rickey 

aka Gin Rickey

This is served on the rocks. Place ice into highball glass, and add:
*One part vodka
*One part gin
*One part lime juice
Top off with either tonic or club soda, and garnish with lime wedge.

Lime Types 

  • Key Lime: The Key lime (Citrus aurantifolia (often abbreviated to: C. aurantifolia), or Citrus x aurantifolia (Christm.) Swingle), also known as the Mexican lime, West Indian lime or Bartender's lime, has a globose fruit, 2.5-5 cm in diameter (1-2 in), that is yellow when ripe but usually picked green commercially. It is smaller, seedier, has a higher acidity, a stronger aroma, and a thinner rind than that of the Persian lime. It is valued for its unique flavor compared to other limes, with the key lime usually having a more tart and bitter flavor. The name comes from its association with the Florida Keys, where it is best known as the flavoring ingredient in Key lime pie.
  • Persian Lime: Persian Lime (Citrus x latifolia), also known as Tahiti lime or Bearss lime, is a citrus fruit grown commercially in the U.S. and sold simply as a "lime". The fruit is about 6 cm in diameter, often with slightly nippled ends, and is usually sold quite green, although it yellows as it reaches full ripeness. It is larger, thicker-skinned, and less aromatic than the key lime, which has a wider agricultural distribution worldwide. The advantages of the Persian lime in commercial agriculture compared to the Key lime are the larger size, absence of seeds, hardiness, absence of thorns on the bushes, and longer fruit shelf life. They are less acidic than key limes and don't have the bitterness that lends to the key lime's unique flavor. Persian limes are commercialized primarily in six sizes, known as 110's, 150's, 175's, 200's, 230's and 250's.
  • Kaffir lime: The kaffir lime (Citrus hystrix DC., Rutaceae), also known as kieffer lime, makrut, or magrood, is a type of lime native to Indonesia, commonly used in Southeast Asian cuisine, and widely grown worldwide as a backyard shrub.

    The kaffir lime is a rough, bumpy green fruit that grows on very thorny bush with aromatic leaves. It is well suited to container growing. The green lime fruit is distinguished by its bumpy exterior and its small size (approx. 4 cm wide).
  • Australian Limes: Australian lime refers to six small citrus species known as lime native to the continent of Australia.

    Five are found only in the rainforests of the north. The sixth, the Desert Lime (Citrus glauca), grows in semi-arid areas of southeastern Australia. Two of the five rainforest limes occur naturally in southeast Queensland - the Finger Lime (Citrus australasica) and a small round lime known as the Round Lime or Gympie Lime (Citrus australis) and called Dooja How.
  • Spanish Lime (mamoncillo): The mamoncillo (Melicoccus bijugatus), also known as the mamón (although the word is considered obscene in some Spanish speaking countries), chenet, guaya, gnep, ginep, skinnip (in St. Kitts) genip, guinep, ginnip, kenèp (in Haiti), quenepa (in Puerto Rico), akee (in Barbados), Spanish lime, or limoncillo, is a fruit-bearing tree in the soapberry family Sapindaceae, native or naturalised over a wide area of the American tropics including Central America, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela,Guyana, Suriname and the Caribbean. It is a large tree growing up to 30 m high. The leaves are alternate, 8-5 cm long, pinnate with 4 or 6 opposite leaflets (no terminal leaflet), each leaflet 5-10 cm long.

    It is grown and cultivated for its ovoid, green fruit, which grow in bunches. The fruit ripen during the summer. The fruit, similar to that of the related lychee, is classified as a drupe. A mamoncillo fruit has a tight and thin but rigid layer of skin, traditionally cracked by the teeth. Inside the skin is the tart, tangy, cream pulp of the fruit, which is sucked by putting the whole fruit inside the mouth (the seed takes most of the volume of what is inside the skin). Despite the light color of the fruit's flesh, the juice stains a dark brown color, and was often used by indigenous Arawak natives to dye cloth.
  • Sweet Lime: Citrus limetta is a species of citrus. Common names for varieties of this species include sweet limetta, Mediterranean sweet lemon, sweet lemon, and sweet lime. In India, it is commonly called mousambi, mosambi, or musambi.

    It is a small tree which may reach 8 meters in height. The sweet lemon has irregular branches, and relatively smooth, brownish gray bark. It possesses numerous thorns which may become anywhere from 1.5 to 7.5 centimeters long. The petioles of the sweet lemon are narrowly but distinctly winged, and are 8 to 29 millimeters long. It has leaflets rather than leaves, which are obovate and 5.5 to 17 centimeters long, 2.8 to 8 centimeters wide. The apex of the leaflet is acuminate, and the base of the leaflet is rounded. Flowers are white in bud and in bloom, ranging from 2 to 3 centimeters wide. The petals soon fall away, leaving the fruit to grow. The skin of the fruit is light yellow at maturity; the rind is white and about 5 millimeters thick. The pulp is greenish and the juice is sweet rather than acidic.
  • Palestine Sweet Lime: The sweet lime, Citrus limettioides Tan. (syn. C. lumia Risso et Poit.), is called limettier doux in French; lima dulce in Spanish; mitha limbu, mitha nimbu, or mitha nebu, in India (mitha meaning "sweet"); quit giây in Vietnam; limûn helou, or succari in Egypt; laymûn-helo in Syria and Palestine. It is often confused with the sweet lemon, C. limetta Tan., (q.v. under LEMON) which, in certain areas, is referred to as "sweet lime". In some of the literature, it is impossible to tell which fruit is under discussion.

    The tree, its foliage, and the form and size of the fruit resemble the Tahiti lime; the leaves are serrated and the petioles nearly wingless. The fruit is not at all similar to the Mexican lime. The flowers are borne singly in the leaf axils or in terminal clusters of 2 to 10; the fruits may be solitary or in bunches of 2 to 5.

    It is not known where or how the sweet lime originated, but it is thought to be a hybrid between a Mexican-type lime and a sweet lemon or sweet citron. Mediterranean botanists refer to it as native to India. Central and northern India, northern Vietnam, Egypt and other countries around the coasts of Mediterranean, and tropical America, are the chief areas of cultivation. It came to the United States from Saharanpur, India, in 1904 (S. P. I. #10365).

    There is very limited culture in California where the fruits produced by desert-grown trees differ markedly from those in cooler coastal regions. It is not grown for its fruit nor used as a rootstock in Florida because of its high susceptibility to viruses. In India and Israel it is much utilized as a rootstock for the sweet orange and other Citrus species.
  • Musk Lime: The musk lime is a common plant in the home garden, either as a potted plant or planted in the garden. It grows to about 3-4 meter tall. The fruits are very small compared to other citrus. It is roundish with a smooth, shiny, thin skin. The skin is often made rough and warty by insect damage. Immature fruits are green but turn yellow or orangy when ripe. Inside each fruit are 6-8 segments which often contain seeds. They are very juicy but sour, hence not eaten as dessert but rather as a refreshing fruit juice. They are also commonly pickled with salt, and can also be preserved with sugar as dried fruits. The plants fruits all the year round and can be easily propagated by marcotting as well as from seeds.
  • Omani Lime: A small lime with a very strong flavor and fragrant aroma. It is grown in the Middle Eastern country of Oman, it is preserved by boiling in salt water and then dried. It is then used as a seasoning called amani, black lime, dried lime, loomi, lumi or omani. Strongly flavored, with a slightly bitter, fermented flavor, it tastes typically sour and citrusy, but lacks the sweetness of a fresh lime.

Mojito 

1 1/2 oz rum
12 fresh mint leaves
1/2 lime (cut into wedges)
7 oz club soda
2 tbsp. simple syrup
(or 4 tsp. sugar)

Muddle (mash) the mint with the lime wedges in a highball glass. If using sugar, put sugar on limes before muddling. If using simple syrup, pour syrup over the mint and lime after muddling.
Add rum, club soda. Fill glass with crushed ice and stir well. Garnish with a lime wedge and a few sprigs of mint.

Limes In Drinks 

Jasmine Lime Granita with Lychees (w/ Recipe) by jen_m_stewart

Lime Granita with Lychees

How about some caipirinha? by beespace

Caipirinha

Le Vallauris Coke with Lime by disneymike

Coke with Lime

I like lime in my beer by Aaron_1995

Beer with Lime

lime & condensed milk= sweet and sour heaven by Viv | Seattle Bon Vivant

Limeade and condensed milk

margaritas by shrtbutfast

Margarita

Caipirinha 

Caipirinha is Brazil's national cocktail, made with cachaça, sugar and lime. Cachaça is Brazil's most common distilled alcoholic beverage. Like rum, it is made from sugarcane.

Classic Caipirinha Recipe:

In an old fashioned or (flat bottomed) on-the-rocks glass, add:
4 to 6 lime wedges (depending on size)
(You may want to remove any seeds before muddling.)
Add 2 to 3 heaping tablespoons of sugar to the top of the lime slices (depending on your sweetness preference)
Muddle (mash) sugar and limes together well
Add 2 to 3 shots (ounces) cachaça
Stir well to thoroughly dissolve the sugar, add cracked ice, stir, and enjoy.

Limes For The Kitchen 

Lime Dip Bowls Set Of 2 Ceramic Snack Home Gourmet

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Put The Lime In The Coconut 

Jewelry Limes 

Enameled Green BEADED LIME Dangle Belly Ring

This belly ring has a silver chain and a green sparkly dangling from a lime wedge.

Amazon Price: (as of 12/02/2008) Buy Now
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Corona Lime Slice Pendant Swarovski Crystal Necklace

Wedge of lime pendant on chain.

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Corona Lime Slice Pendant Toe Ring

Wedge of lime on a toe ring.

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Corona Lime Slice Pendant Swarovski Crystal Anklet

Wedge of lime on an anklet.

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Corona Swarovski Crystal Got Lime Flip Flop Dangle Earrings

These flip flop earrings have "Got Lime" on the footbed and a lime wedge on the strap.

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Buy Your Own Limes! 

Melissa's Fresh Key Limes, (5 lb)

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Take your taste buds to key lime pie and beyond with tangy, juicy, Key Limes from Melissa's. Use in fresh limeade, iced tea, and mixed drinks; squeeze over fresh fish and seafood; or add to desserts, dressings, and marinades to brighten flavors and enhance all your favorite tropical recipes.

Margarita Jewelry 

Green Enameled Margarita With Lime Charm, 14K Yellow Gold

This pendant is a margarita glass with lime slice in 14k yellow gold

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Sterling Silver Green CZ Margarita With Enamel Lime Pendant

Margarita glass with lime slice pin in cubic zirconia and sterling silver.

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List Price: $63.50
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Enameled LIME Martini GLASS Dangle Belly Ring

This belly ring features a margarita glass (complete with lime slice) dangling from a lime wedge.

Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 12/02/2008) Buy Now
List Price: $36.99
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Lime Cilantro Vinaigrette 

I love cilantro, and I obviously love limes, so this vinaigrette is a natural favorite of mine. You can substitute white vinegar for the white wine vinegar if needed. Be careful to not overblend the ingredients.

Ingredients:

* 1/4 C lime juice
* 1/8 C white wine vinegar
* 1/2 C cilantro leaves (remove stems)
* 1 TBL honey
* 1 TBL brown sugar
* 1/4 tsp kosher salt
* 1 tsp fresh chopped garlic
* 2-1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
* 3/4 C light olive oil

Place all ingredients (except olive oil) into blender or food processor. Process until smooth. With machine running, stream olive oil into other ingredients to thicken the sauce. Do not over blend. Should make about a cup of vinaigrette - but this recipe doubles well. Refrigerate any unused portions.

Limes From CafePress 

Got Lime? Jr. Jersey T-Shirt

"Got Lime?" logo

Price: 21.99 Buy Now

cinco de mayo Women's T-Shirt

Graphic lime wedge logo

Price: 17.99 Buy Now

Key Lime Pi Mousepad

Key Lime Pie logo

Price: 13.99 Buy Now

Powered by CafePress

Kaffir Lime Leaves 

Its hourglass-shaped leaves (comprising the leaf blade plus a flattened, leaf-like leaf-stalk or petiole) are widely used in Thai cuisine (for dishes such as tom yum), Lao cuisine, and Cambodian cuisine, for the base paste known as "Krueng". The leaves are also popular in Indonesian cuisine (especially Balinese and Javanese), for foods such as sayur assam - literally sour vegetables, and are also used along with Indonesian bay leaf for chicken and fish. They are also found in Malay and Burmese cuisines.

The leaves can be used fresh or dried, and can be stored frozen.

The Lime Log 

Welcome To My Citrus Guest Book

Thanks for visiting my Lime page. I hope you enjoyed it. If you have any questions, or thoughts, or suggestions, leave them for me here...or just say hello.


But, please, leave no links, they won't be activated.


PattB wrote...

Mmmmm my mouth is watering. I love limes too, and it's great to have all this great info. Thanks! 5 stars!

ReplyPosted October 30, 2008

The_Homeopath wrote...

Oh, I'm so hungry now! We like to mix fresh lime juice with sweetened, condensed milk and use it as a drizzle for spice cake - YUMMY!

ReplyPosted October 19, 2008

Lensmaster

stacey wrote

hi, we bought a country home. near the back window there are these ominous bushes. we discovered this weekend that they have limes on them. the bushes have some mega thorns on them. I don't know if they cut them so they'd be a bush or if it's supposed to be a tree. But I can not find anywhere where it shows an example of a lime tree with these mega thorns on it. Can you help?

Reply Posted August 18, 2008

Tiddledeewinks wrote...

Limes and lemons together are such nice colors. Would make great kitchen decor! Great lens. Check out my pomagranites one .You have such nice topics picked for your lenses! Tiddledeewinks.

ReplyPosted July 01, 2008

Serengeti wrote...

My neighbour has a kaffir lime tree. I squeeze a little in with some lemonade and it is HEAVEN.

ReplyPosted May 25, 2008

beachbum_gabby wrote...

hmm~ perfect for tequila matched with salt!

ReplyPosted May 14, 2008

CherylK wrote...

Wow, this is a lot of good information. Very well done. I wonder if I could grow a musk lime tree indoors in a sunny porch?

ReplyPosted May 02, 2008

The_Book_Garden wrote...

Great Lens! Though no mention of my favorite way of taking Limes - Tequilla!

ReplyPosted May 02, 2008

 
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