Limes are indigenous to southeastern Asia, where they have been grown
for thousands of years. From the earliest sailing days on British ships,
sailors were given lime juice to prevent scurvy, hence the nickname
limey for
British sailors.
Today perhaps to counter California's dominance of lemon crops, Florida
supplies most of North America's lime needs. California is second, and
Mexico recently has ramped up production to significant amounts.
Limes grow all year. They are harvested in Florida all twelve months
of the year. Imports typically arrive from May until August. The most
common lime found in the US is the Florida Persian, which has a smooth,
tight rind, and few or no seeds. The Florida Persian is a light orange-yellow
color when ripe.
The Mexican lime is lemon-yellow when ripe, and has a smooth, tight
rind.
Limes contain 5 to 6 percent citric acid, too acidic to drink without
sweetening. Use your juicer to make a natural limeade with limes
and apples.
Subacid fruits, such as apples, pears, plums, peaches, grapes and apricots
go best with limes.
Beneficial Effects
Limes are more remarkable for their high vitamin C content. They are
helpful for the relief of arthritis. They are also closely akin to the
lemon.
