Lime Flavored Water

Rutaceae Citrus aurantifolia also known as Green lemon, Key lime, Lime, Mexican lime, Persian lime, Sour lemon, Tahiti lime, West Indian lime limes or limon del pais grow on relatively small, much branched citrus trees. The Mexican or Key lime is near round 1 to 2 inches diameter, with thin rind and acid pulp. Tahiti limes are larger, 2 to 2-1/2 inches diameter. Low acid or sweet limes are available and grown in some countries, but rarely in the U.S. Limes have been crossed with other types of citrus.

It readily became naturalized in the West Indies and Mexico, There is no known record of its arrival in Florida. Dr. Henry Perrine planted limes from Yucatan on Indian Key and possibly elsewhere. In 1839, cultivation of limes in southern Florida was reported to be "increasing". The lime became a common dooryard fruit and by 1883 was being grown commercially on a small scale in Orange and Lake Counties. When pineapple culture was abandoned on the Florida Keys, because of soil depletion and the 1906 hurricane, people began planting limes as a substitute crop for the Keys and the islands off Ft. Myers on the west coast.

The fruits were pickled in saltwater and shipped to Boston where they were a popular snack for school children. The little industry flourished especially between 1913 and 1923, but was demolished by the infamous hurricane of 1926. Thereafter, the lime was once again mainly a casual dooryard resource on the Keys and the southern part of the Florida mainland.