
Persian lime
Persian lime, also known by other common names such as seedless lime, Bearss lime and Tahiti lime, is a citrus fruit species of hybrid origin, known only in cultivation. The Persian lime is a triploid cross between key lime and lemon.
What is the difference between Persian lime and Key lime?
Persian limes are the variety of limes that you're most likely to pick up in the grocery store. They're smaller than regular Eureka lemons but larger than Key limes. Persian limes are characterized by their thin, smooth rind, seedless flesh, acidic flavor, and juiciness.
What is the difference between Eureka lemons and Persian limes?
They're smaller than regular Eureka lemons but larger than Key limes. Persian limes are characterized by their thin, smooth rind, seedless flesh, acidic flavor, and juiciness. Use Persian limes when you want to add acidity to sweet and savory meals.
What are the different kinds of limes?
Also known as the Bearss or Tahiti Lime, the Persian Lime is the most common variety found in the United States. Generally larger and less aromatic, the Persian Lime tends to be both less acidic and bitter than some other varieties. Made famous by its namesake pie, the Key Lime differs from its larger cousin in a number of ways.
What's the difference between regular limes and Key limes?
As compared to your standard lime, you'll notice a world of difference in the levels of acidity between the two. In fact, when comparing the two, regular limes have a lower PH and higher acidity than key limes. This, in part, is why key limes have become so popular in the worlds of baking and cocktail crafting.
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How does a key lime differ from a Persian lime?
Made famous by its namesake pie, the Key Lime differs from its larger cousin in a number of ways. First, it’s significantly smaller and as a result yields less juice. In addition the Key Lime has more seeds and its flavor is more intense and possesses a bitter component not present in its Persian cousin. Finally, this fruit turns yellow when ripe.
Are Key Limes Worth the Extra Work?
In my opinion, No. As a cocktail novice I don’t think that the work involved in tracking down and juicing Key Limes produced enough of a difference to make it worth the effort . I’m sure that many may decry my opinion, but there it is.
What is the most common type of lime?
Also known as the Bearss or Tahiti Lime, the Persian Lime is the most common variety found in the United States. Generally larger and less aromatic, the Persian Lime tends to be both less acidic and bitter than some other varieties.
Is key lime bitter?
Key Limes are definitely drier and more bitter. While I may need to do more experimentation, I prefer Persian Limes. Hands down, Key Limes are much more difficult to juice. I invested in a worthless hand juicer , but found that simply squeezing them by hand is easier.
Do key limes have a different flavor?
That said, Key Limes clearly have a different flavor and if you’re keen on creating authentic cocktails that require Key Limes, a strongly suggest that you give them a shot.
Do you need to juice a key lime?
Have you ever seen a Key Lime? They’re tiny and not very juicy. So…. You need to juice quite a few to get a decent quantity of juice.
Definitions
Lime: the small, greenish-yellow acid fruit of a citrus tree; Citrus aurantifolia, allied to the lemon
A Little History
http://entreconpensacola.com/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https://entreconpensacola.com/about/ Regular limes are actually Persian limes. Although they’re super common in the US, key limes are actually more widespread throughout the rest of the world.
Color, Size & Taste
Key limes are more yellowish in color, are a bit smaller, contain more seeds, have a more leathery rind, and pack more of an aromatic scent than Persian limes.
Is the Juice Worth the Squeeze?
Key limes require much more work than Persian limes to get the juice out. When Cooks Illustrated experimented with exchanging key limes and Persian limes in recipes they found that to get a half cup of lime juice they had to squeeze three Persian limes. With the Key limes, it took almost 20.
Persian Limes in Key Lime Pies
Fine Cooking, The Pioneer Woman, and Better Homes and Gardens all agree that it’s fine to use juice from Persian limes in a key lime pie. However, you might want to use fresh lime juice over bottled.
What is the difference between a Persian lime and a Key lime?
Grocery store limes, generally speaking, are Persian limes, which are larger and tarter than their Florida cousins. Key limes are smaller and contain more seeds than Persian limes, while Persian limes have a thick, bright green skin, and Key lime skin is thin and tends to be a little on the yellow side.
Is key lime juice the same as Persian lime?
They even went so far as to run a lab test confirming that the juice from the Persian limes had a lower pH and higher acid ity than the Key lime juice.
What is Persian lime?
The Persian lime is the variety most commonly found in grocery stores. It is usually seedless and has light-green to a yellow pulp which is tender and acidic, yet lacking the distinctive bouquet of the Key lime. It can be used interchangeably for the same purposes as Key limes and lemons and is often used as a substitute for vinegar.
What is lime juice used for?
Lime juice may be used to clean lime deposits from the interiors of coffee pots and tea kettles. Homeopathically, lime juice has also been used effectively to relieve the effects of stinging coral.
What is the difference between a Persian lime and a key lime?
The Persian lime tree has no thorns and produces thicker- skinned fruit larger than the Key lime which keeps longer. These good traits make it a preferable commercial crop. The fruit is oval-shaped, about the same size as a lemon, with a vivid green peel which turns yellow when ripe. The Persian lime is the variety most commonly found in grocery ...
Where did Persian limes originate?
Persian limes are also known as Tahiti limes. This variety has unknown origins but is suspected to be a hybrid of the Mexican lime and citron, a huge, yellow-green, lumpy lemon. Botanists believe this variety was introduced to the Mediterranean area via Persia (now known as Iran). It was carried to Brazil by Portuguese traders ...
What is the name of the citrus in Southeast Asian cuisine?
Another type of lime that turns up a lot in Southeast Asian recipes are makrut limes ( Citrus hystrix ). They are easy to spot by their bumpy, wrinkled skin. Makrut lime leaves may be easier to find than the fruit itself, especially in Asian grocery stores; they lend a floral, citrusy fragrance to Thai dishes that’s like a combo of Persian lime, lemon, and orange essence. The actual fruit isn’t very juicy, but the zest can be used like the leaves, to infuse flavor into soups, sauces, and curries.
What is lime used for in cooking?
Often when lime is called for in a recipe, it’s as a secondary seasoning or garnish. Less common are recipes like this one, where the juice and zest of the citrus are featured prominently in several elements of the dish. Get our Grilled Chile Salmon with Lime Crema recipe.
What is the difference between a key lime and a Persian lime?
Which brings up the subject of work: There’s no denying that Key limes require a lot more of it—especially when you consider yield (not a lot) versus the cost (sometimes up to two or three times more than a Persian lime).
What is Tom Kha Gai?
Tom Kha Gai (Thai Coconut Chicken Soup) Make like the song and put the lime in the coconut (milk) for this classic Thai soup. The citrus’ sharp, acidic profile cuts through the sweetness of the rich coconut milk and helps play up the sour-savory umami flavors of the fish stock and mushrooms. Get our Thai Coconut Chicken Soup recipe.
Is lime pie the same as key lime pie?
Of course there’s more separating the two than meets the eye, but the differences are fairly minute and, indeed, the two can often be used interchangeably in recipes without risk of total disaster. Though, naturally, it stands to reason that Key Lime Pie is not Key Lime ...
Where do key limes come from?
While many residents in the Key region still grow the eponymous trees on their property, most of the Key limes you find in stores here are sourced from Mexico.
Is Calamansi a lime?
You might also see calamansi ( Citrus mitis) in an ingredients list for a Filipino dish, and it sometimes goes by the name Philippine lime or golden lime—but it’s not actually a lime at all. (Besides which, these small, thin-skinned citrus fruits don’t travel well, so they can be hard to find, but if you do get your hands on some, expect a taste somewhat like a sour orange.)
How much does a lime weigh?
While the average lime weighs 3 ounces , a key lime generally weighs in at around 1 ounce. This is why more key limes are often required to produce the same level of juice as a regular lime.
Which citrus fruit has the highest citric acid content?
For those that tend to err on the side of caution with acidity, a lime isn't always one's first choice when it comes to fruit. In addition to lemons, limes have the highest citric acid content of all citrus fruits.
Do key limes produce more juice?
As compared to other varieties of lime, a key lime will require more limes to produce the same amount of juice. That being said, rest assured that the juice you do extract will be powerful and stunningly aromatic.
Is key lime acidic?
With a key lime, you can rest assured that it won't be on the acidic side. As compared to your standard lime, you'll notice a world of difference in the levels of acidity between the two. In fact, when comparing the two, regular limes have a lower PH and higher acidity than key limes.
Is a key lime worth it?
As compared to your run-of-the-mill lime, a key lime is sure to provide an elevated sense of flavor. It's also going to award you a taste that is less tart and more floral than any of your standard limes. When it comes to using lime in your everyday life, it's safe to say that a key lime is well worth your time.
What is the synonym for Persian lime?
Synonyms. Citrus aurantiifolia var. latifolia Yu. Tanaka. Persian lime ( Citrus × latifolia ), also known by other common names such as seedless lime, Bearss lime and Tahiti lime, is a citrus fruit species of hybrid origin, known only in cultivation.
What is Persian lime?
Persian lime. Citrus aurantiifolia var. latifolia Yu. Tanaka. Persian lime ( Citrus × latifolia ), also known by other common names such as seedless lime, Bearss lime and Tahiti lime, is a citrus fruit species of hybrid origin, known only in cultivation.
What is the name of the citrus that is a cross between lemon and lime?
The Persian lime is a triploid cross between key lime ( Citrus × aurantiifolia) and lemon ( Citrus limon ). Although there are other citrus species that are referred to as " limes ", the Persian lime is the most widely cultivated lime species commercially, and accounts for the largest share of the fruits sold as limes.
What are the advantages of Persian lime?
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 do not have the bitterness that lends to the key lime's unique flavor.
How big is a lime tree?
Sliced lime. The tree is nearly thornless. The fruit is about 6 cm (2.4 in) in diameter, often with slightly nippled ends, and is usually sold while green, although it yellows as it reaches full ripeness. It is also widely available dried, as it is often used this way in Persian cuisine.
Where are Persian limes grown?
Persian limes were first grown on a large scale in Persia (now known as Iran) and southern Iraq. The trees are propagated clonally, by grafting or air layering. Persian limes are commercialized primarily in six sizes, known as 110s, 150s, 175s, 200s, 230s and 250s.

Definitions
- Lime: the small, greenish-yellow acid fruit of a citrus tree; Citrus aurantifolia, allied to the lemon
- Key lime: a yellow lime with a bitter rather than sour taste
A Little History
- Regular limes are actually Persian limes. Although they’re super common in the US, key limes are actually more widespread throughout the rest of the world. Key limes were grown commercially in the Florida Keys until a hurricane destroyed most of the crop during the 1920s. Farmers replaced them with the Persian limes. Most key limes you see in our grocery stores today are from Mexico.
Color, Size & Taste
- Key limes are more yellowish in color, are a bit smaller, contain more seeds, have a more leathery rind, and pack more of an aromatic scent than Persian limes. When it comes to taste, key limes have a bolder, more acidic flavor, although opinions seem to differ on if it’s more tart or more bitter.
Is The Juice Worth The Squeeze?
- Key limes require much more work than Persian limes to get the juice out. When Cooks Illustratedexperimented with exchanging key limes and Persian limes in recipes they found that to get a half cup of lime juice they had to squeeze three Persian limes. With the Key limes, it took almost 20.
Persian Limes in Key Lime Pies
- Fine Cooking, The Pioneer Woman, and Better Homes and Gardensall agree that it’s fine to use juice from Persian limes in a key lime pie. However, you might want to use fresh lime juice over bottled.