Fruit
Key Lime
S tier
Key lime is the culinary name for small Florida Keys–associated aurantiifolia fruit—yellowish when fully ripe, intensely aromatic, essential to Key lime pie’s legal and cultural identity when authentic. Juice is tarter and more perfumed than Persian. Size is marble to golf ball. Pie, ceviche, and cocktails showcase the aroma. Bottled Key lime juice varies wildly—fresh is transformative. Expect seeds and more juicing work per cup.
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Characteristics
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Grading systems
Grades are placed along a shared scale so systems can be compared side by side.
History
Keys growers cultivated small limes that named Key lime pie tradition.
Hurricane and later freezes damaged Florida Key lime acreage, shifting supply.
Mexican and other tropical fruit filled Key lime demand for pies and restaurants.