Lime

The three most common types of lime are the Tahitian (Citrus latifolia), the Mexican (Citrus aurantifolia), and the Key lime (Citrus aurantifolia). The Mexican and Key limes are referred to as “true limes, whereas the Tahitian is considered to be a hybrid.” The Key lime is native to Southeast Asia and found its way through the Middle East to North Africa and then to Sicily and Andalusia. Spanish explorers brought the lime over to the West Indies and the Florida Keys in the 1500s where cultivation spread, hence the name Key lime. Key limes are smaller than the Tahitian variety, and the Key lime in particular is known for its distinctive flavor and juiciness. It was the primary lime crop in Florida until the 1920s when it was destroyed by a hurricane and replaced by the Tahitian lime.