Key lime is a citrus cultivar developed in southeast Asia that is considered superior in flavor and aroma than Persian limes. The fruit was cultivated for centuries throughout Asia and the Middle East, eventually making its way to the West Indies and North America.
Also known as bartender’s lime, Mexican lime and West Indian lime, key lime gets its common name from the Florida Keys where the fruit is now naturalized and where the popular desert key lime pie originated.
The antimicrobial and astringent effects of lime essential oil is due to the collective activity of several compounds. These include alpha pinene, beta pinene, borneol, cineole, citral, limonene, linalool and myrcene.
