Key Lime vs Lime — there’s the big question! But is there any difference between Key Lime and Lemon? Is lime better than lemon? The quick answer is no, absolutely not! The long answer is they are both great. We all know they are different types of limes and lime juice, but still think about it, what do they taste like? Sometimes we get confused and wonder: Is there a difference between Key Lime and Lime?
It seems like they may be used interchangeably. However, if you know how to use them correctly, you can get the desired flavor you’re looking for. To most people, this might be a silly question. But to me, there is a difference.
There is a lot of difference between key lime juice, and lime juice. Let’s have a look at those.
Difference Between Key Lime and Lime:
KEY LIME:
Key lime is a variety of citrus, which produces aromatic juice that is used in many desserts. They are smaller in size and have thinner skin with a far more intense aroma. This fruit is also known for its distinctive tartness and intense flavor. Key lime has green skin with yellow streaks. They also contain less juice but have more pulp.
Key limes are used to make Key lime pie, key lime cake, key lime bars, key lime ice cream, key lime juice, key lime pie recipe, Florida key lime pies, etc. It may be eaten fresh with an accompaniment of sugar in most cases. Limes can be bottled whole or they can be juiced. They are packed in cans or packed in jars in brine or syrup for longer storage.
LIME:
Lime fruit is a yellowish round or oval fruit with a firm texture and a strong acid flavor. It is orange-yellow on the outside and greenish-yellow on the inside. American limes are bigger with light green skin and contain more juice and less pulp as compared to that key limes.
This fruit has enough nutrients to last you the whole day. They are an excellent source of vitamin C and contain citric acid. Lime is mostly used in cooking, but it can also be used for cleaning purposes. Lime is one of the most popular fruits today prized for its juice, juice, fresh juice, pickle juice, etc. In Egypt, lime juice is added as an ingredient to as many as forty percent of dishes.
Varied Types Of Lime:
Citrus is a group of tropical evergreen trees and also some shrubs or vines that bear fruit called citrus fruits. These fruits are generally sweet and fleshy with colorful, varying, and distinct tastes. There is a wide variety of citrus types grown all over the world such as orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit, and many more.
The various types of limes are Key lime or Mexican Lime, Persian or Tahiti or Bearss lime, Kaffir lime, Finger Lime, Desert Lime, Mandarin Lime, Meyer’s Lemon Lime, etc. What we call lime is Persian lime. This means limes can come from Iran, Taiwan, and other Asian countries as well as Mexico, Central & South America.
There are a lot of variants of the lime tree that grow several fruits with different characteristics. The kaffir lime is a great example, known for its almost spicy aroma and the fact that it is used to flavor Thai food.
Persian lime is tiny and oval-shaped with a very thin layer of green peel, which makes them easy to be squeezed, and is mostly used for lime juice. La Morena Limes are fairly large, have lots of juice with few seeds, and are popular for use in drinks.
KEY LIME JUICE:
Key limes are an heirloom citrus fruit from Florida. Their juice has a distinctive aroma and is less sweet than most citrus juices. I love the tartness of Key Lime juice. Key Lime juice makes an excellent addition to many other homemade beverages, desserts, and drinks, especially for those who like things on the tart side.
Key lime juice is a clear, pale yellow to greenish color. This acidic juice is produced from the juice of key limes or Mexican limes. It has a clean, refreshing fragrance and an unmistakable distinctively tart flavor and aroma. It is used to make an authentic key lime pie, mixed drinks, tarts, desserts, etc. It has a bright, tart taste that’s perfect for making desserts or cocktails just like an experienced chef.
Key Lime Juice Included In:
Key Lime Juice is made by squeezing real Key Limes (Citrus aurantifolia) directly into Simple Syrup. Key Lime Juice is commonly used in drinks like the Mojito, Margarita, Caipirinha, Daiquiri, and Hemingway Daiquiri. The juice is high in quinine, a compound that gives martinis their signature zingy flavor. In terms of nutrition, key lime juice provides vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, and vitamin B1.
Key Lime Pie is a unique flavor that ties together key lime juice and graham crackers to make a mouth-watering pie. It’s prized for its unique flavor, which is usually enhanced with sugar but goes especially well with eggs. The subtle exhale will remind you of a citrus grove in the Florida Keys, and the sweet undertone makes this flavor a great addition to an ice cream float or milkshake. Try baking Key Lime Pie brownies, or add it to a fresh shake or juice for a cool summer drink that won’t melt.
Conclusion:
Upon reading the above article hope you got the difference between key lime and lime and you’ll be able to differentiate them.
Key limes are smaller, firmer, more acidic, and have a thinner peel than Persian lime. They are sour-tasting and contain a lot of juice compared to regular limes. Because of their flavor, they are used primarily in savory dishes. Persian limes are larger, softer, and have a thicker peel than the key lime. They are sweet with almost no acidity. Because of their flavor, they work well in both savory and sweet dishes. Use both wisely in dishes and explore the distinct flavors.
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