Where to buy key limes

After what started out as a blind tasting of simple limeade, Serious Eats' culinary director, Daniel , had no trouble identifying the Key lime variations by their distinctive acidity, smooth like "a ninja punch to the back of your throat. Blends made from three parts conventional and one part Key fared no better; even in those minute quantities, the bitterness of Mexican-grown Key limes overwhelmed my tasters.

Those aren't the qualities I'm after when paying out the nose for imported produce. It's not that I have a problem shelling out for Mexican-grown limes; only that I'd prefer to buy something juicy and delicious.

Which is why I'm not afraid to stand up and cheer for the good ol' supermarket lime, Citrus latifolia. Also known as the Persian lime, this variety is grown in Mexico as well, yet those growing conditions give it a balanced flavor, aroma, and acidity. Plus, conventional limes are loaded with juice that's zippy and bright—bitter, not caustic. These iconic limes may not have the romance of the Keys, but they have more than enough acidity to cut through recipes laden with sugar and fat.

And, should a particularly sweet custard need more bitterness than their juice can supply, it's a simple matter of adding more zest. But flavor isn't the only factor—there are also the intersecting issues of cost and convenience. On the surface, that may seem like a reasonable splurge, but it's important to consider yield. A pound of conventional limes, usually no more than five or six fruits, will produce six ounces of juice on average. But the ratio of rind to fruit and the higher proportion of seeds mean that a pound of Key limes upwards of 25 individual citrus will give up only half as much, as little as three to four ounces of juice per pound.

So, not only are Key limes more expensive, you have to buy twice as many and work five times as hard to get the same amount of juice. That may not be an issue for some, but unless you've got a strong preference for the bitterness of Mexican limes, that's a lot of extra effort and expense.

And don't get me started on the sky-high price of Key lime juice bottled in Key West—it's nothing more than marketing sleight of hand used to disguise the unavoidable reality of imported Mexican limes. Whether it's bottled or fresh, if you truly enjoy the flavor of Mexican "Key" lime juice, that's fantastic! If you've got access to fresh, locally grown Key limes, rock on! I'm just saying that the rest of us should take a common-sense approach and not be swayed by the faux issue of authenticity.

When it comes to choosing Key limes or conventional, the "correct" answer is strictly a matter of taste. Get the Chili-Lime Roasted Chickpeas recipe. Make like the song and put the lime in the coconut milk for this classic Thai soup. Get our Thai Coconut Chicken Soup recipe.

Less common are recipes like this one, where the juice and zest of the citrus are featured prominently in several elements of the dish. Ambitious baker alert! Finally, a lime-centric dessert thinks outside the curd. This show-stopper of a dessert infuses lime zest into classic vanilla sponge cake, offering a subtle, refreshing tang to balance out the juicy sweetness of blackberry buttercream.

Get the Blackberry Lime Cake recipe. Key lime and pie are inextricably linked. Get our Key Lime Pie recipe. Of course, if you love the flavor of this classic dessert but want to shake up the format, this clever recipe breaks out of the pie mold by presenting the curd base as a sweet dip for cookies and graham crackers. Get the Key Lime Pie Dip recipe. This easy Key lime cake with a sweet-tart lime glaze is perfect for breakfast or dessert—or snacking any time in between. Get the Key Lime Tea Cake recipe.

This tart, cooling sorbet is the perfect post-backyard-barbecue palate cleanser. Just be forewarned that juicing that many little Key limes is going to take some elbow grease. Get the Key Lime Sorbet recipe. The intense, acid-driven profile of the Key lime is a nice foil to the natural oceany sweetness of scallops. Bright and aromatic with just the right kick of spice, this is a quick, easy summer starter. Search for Key lime cocktails and more often than not a martini version of the pie will pop up.

Get the Key Lime Cooler recipe. These 27 ideas for using leftover wine prove that it's both satisfying and resourceful. Giving Back. Fruit Combinations. Ripening Guide. Seasonal Guide.

Shipping Guide. Close cart. Close esc. Size Test Box. To have your product shipped between Mon, Nov 15 - Wed, Nov Ripening Guide Our Key Limes come ready to eat and use.

Add a squeeze and a slice to your water or over your favourite fruits, it goes surprisingly well with Papaya! Reviews Customer Reviews Based on 7 reviews Write a review. Raychelle F. I love support black owned businesses! Thank you so much. It came in great time, they were fresh and smelled so strong and fresh!