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evclides OP t1_j1yw4nb wrote

Citrus is really interesting, oranges are also a hybrid between a mandarin and a pomelo, grapefruits are a hybrid of those hybrid oranges and a certain kind of pomelo that developed in the Caribbean and my favorite bitter Seville oranges are the same kind of hybrid but with a different kind of pomelo, and lemons, pomelo, mandarins, key limes and all citrus fruits that aren’t taxonomic hybrids are actually hybrids of the citron and different unknown fruits.

I bought key limes to make a pie this past summer and found that I like them better than “regular” limes, they’re very bitter but in a much more pleasant way than lemons or “regular limes” and even though they’re half the size you get double the amount of juice. Same thing with quinces which are one of the ancestors of the apple, I get pies that are less goopy and sickeningly sweet if I use quinces and honey rather than regular apples.

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sfxer001 t1_j1yywsk wrote

Apples are all hybrids too and it is fascinating.

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arcanum7123 t1_j1zx9dt wrote

Also, apple seeds do not produce their parent plant. To make a specific variety of apple, you have to clone a tree from a cutting

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evclides OP t1_j20hvqn wrote

That’s why Johnny Appleseed was so important, the fact that he threw appleseeds all over an insane amount of land that created an amazing diversity of apple varietals. The vast majority of them were probably disgusting but 1/8 of a percent of 1m is still 12.5k.

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Great-Tical t1_j21hk9o wrote

A majority of his orchards were uprooted during Prohibition. Some cideries are trying to bring back some of his hybrids.

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evclides OP t1_j222jf5 wrote

I only recently learned that cider was America’s drink before the temperance movement, but because Germans tended to be less into teetotalerism than Anglos, beer survived but cider didn’t, until recently. I love cider.

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UnkindPotato t1_j223nrx wrote

I used to like beer and wine until I tried cider. Havent been able to genuinely enjoy beer or wine since

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dial-upconnection t1_j20c09o wrote

This applies to avocado seeds as well.

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hkspowers t1_j20m23b wrote

Well damn... I did not know that applied to avacados as well. I've been growing one from seed for a few years now :( What if I buy one from a nursery would those usually be clones capeable of producing fruit?

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Ok-Seaworthiness4488 t1_j20o08o wrote

I've read it can take seven years to produce fruit and not all trees will. And of those many won't taste good and need other avocado trees to pollinate.Nursery ones I think will, grafting from a producing tree is another way.

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ZylonBane t1_j216toi wrote

>Apples are all hybrids too and it is fascinating

Oops, all hybrids!

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TootlesFTW t1_j1zzasy wrote

> I like them better than “regular” limes, they’re very bitter but in a much more pleasant way than lemons or “regular limes”

I am surprised to read this take, since I just commented how key limes are awful as a replacement lime. I used them as a substitute in drink mixes, though, not food.

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PoopIsAlwaysSunny t1_j20lu4h wrote

Yeah. Key limes would not be right for drinks, especially without adjusting recipes.

Great in pies tho. There’s a reason it’s key lime pie, not just lime pie

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DonOblivious t1_j218rki wrote

>There’s a reason it’s key lime pie, not just lime pie

Guess what? Lime pies are better. "Key" limes grown outside of the Florida Keys suck, and the vast majority of them are grown outside of the Keys. You're better off buying normal limes, saving a bunch of money, and doing less work and in the end you bake a better pie.

https://www.seriouseats.com/are-key-limes-worth-the-price

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evclides OP t1_j21r1s0 wrote

The original margarita recipe would have been made with a key lime.

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SmokeInMyI t1_j224p67 wrote

Agree, I was surprised t I see their take also

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suzer2017 t1_j28c5wb wrote

Is there a reason, other than the name "Key", that Key West boasts the best key lime pie? The pie you get there is much better than other versions. Just wondered.

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DroolingIguana t1_j1zh0fu wrote

I always thought "key lime pie" was a recipe for lime pie popularised in the Florida keys.

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Kungfumantis t1_j2016vh wrote

Key Limes were a common cash crop for early Florida Keys settlers to supplement the Pineapple and Mango(when there was enough soil) crops. They're not native to the Keys though, the name was just marketing.

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Vergenbuurg t1_j1zs6h2 wrote

Aye, this was my [potentially incorrect] understanding, as well.

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LunarPayload t1_j22x7t4 wrote

Made with the type of limes commonly grown in the Florida Keys; and doesn't need baking because who wants a hot kitchen in the hot weather?

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dasoomer t1_j1yy7dg wrote

I'm curious why you call Key limes "real limes" when they're a cultivar? There are very few things we eat, if any, that's the og version

The Key lime cultivar is a citrus hybrid, Citrus micrantha × Citrus medica (a papeda-citron cross).

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evclides OP t1_j1yz5g6 wrote

Yes all citrus fruits aside from the citron are hybrids but sweet oranges, bitter oranges, Persian limes, grapefruits are very recent creations from two domesticated species, the Key lime was just what limes were for a very long time. It’s arbitrary but if you find a recipe from the Romans or medieval Baghdad or wherever that calls for limes, they mean Key limes.

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dasoomer t1_j1z0ftw wrote

Very interesting, TIL! Thank you.

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evclides OP t1_j1z54bn wrote

Np, the original citrus is the citron and that’s what became everything else. Citron is still grown a lot because it’s a large part of the Jewish holiday of Sukkot but it’s not nice to eat, I think if it were fermented out in salt like how I do with lemons or put in a fruitcake it would be good though.

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JoanneDark90 t1_j20ko2s wrote

That's only partially true. The Citron was only one of the original progenitors of modern citrus, with the mandarin and pomelo also contributing. They are also wild, original species.

The papeda and kumquat are also original species, but their contribution to the modern mixed citruses is negligible.

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wellknownname t1_j20f7kf wrote

I'm Jewish and I use one on sukkos. They smell amazing, better than any other citrus fruit, and the entire tree (stalks and leaves) carries the same perfume. They aren't much to eat though. There are various slightly different types that are traditionally believed never to have been grafted and most are almost entirely pith. They make nice jam but I've always been too scared to make my own - they are so fragile that apparently the growers use obscene amounts of pesticides on them.

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Amorougen t1_j20karr wrote

Found a really old cake recipe, and it called for candied citron. Wife baked one, was excellent.

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evclides OP t1_j21r70x wrote

So many old recipes call for candied peel and it’s the best.

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LukeyLeukocyte t1_j1zkwmo wrote

I thought there were 4 natural citrus: mandarin, citron, pomelo, and papeda

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coasterboard t1_j1zpnx6 wrote

Wikipedia says to include Kaffir Lime and Kumquat

Can't find anything to support that the Citron is the daddy

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remnantoftheeye t1_j21fvl0 wrote

This is incorrect Citrons along with papedas, mandarins,kumquats and pomelos are the original citrus species(as well as Australian citrus species such as finger limes but they had little impact to the development of citrus plants historically) the rest are hybrids

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LostInDinosaurWorld t1_j1zjs1l wrote

These are called "lemons" in Mexico, and what everybody calls lemons are limes here, in case someone gets confused while visiting or following recipes.

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Stswivvinsdayalready t1_j20hlhm wrote

I've typically heard Mexican people call yellow lemons "limon" and limes "limon verde", or green lemon. I'm sure there's probably variation though. Tbh green lemon is just as good a thing to call it

Edited for improper Spanish emphasis oops

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lalsace t1_j21ajlo wrote

Semi-related tangent, lemons and limes are called "citron" and "citron vert" in French, lemon and green lemon. Not to be confused with what we call "citron" in English which is a different, relatively uncommon citrus fruit.

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triangulito t1_j210zis wrote

Lemon is limón amarillo, limes are limón and key limes are limas

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LunarPayload t1_j22x3n2 wrote

No, limas (limes) in Mexico are sweet; they're rounder and more yellow-green than green

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New_Stats t1_j1yz7av wrote

Key limes are better than limes and it's not even close.

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roox911 t1_j1zcddl wrote

They are just different. There are certain things that need key lines, and certain things that need Persian limes.

Try making a proper mai tai with key lime, it is not great.

Try making a key lime pie with Persian lime.. just not the same.

Source: plenty of citrus trees on my property, go through a couple pounds of limes a week.

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Gastronomicus t1_j1zgb5q wrote

Naw - they're different. Limes have a different flavour better suited to some things.

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evclides OP t1_j1yzx7h wrote

I 100% agree, I bought them to make pies not too long ago and discovered how much better they are, it’s crazy that they’re half the size but when you juice them you get double the liquid.

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Gastronomicus t1_j1zg5vo wrote

That is not my experience - getting juice from key limes is an exercise in patience.

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TootlesFTW t1_j1zyy6i wrote

And key limes are super bitter; definitely not a substitute in recipes that require actual limes.

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NotThatPrincess t1_j1zhvfq wrote

Any Aussies around who can clarify which type we usually have? I'm looking and think the one called key lime looks more like what we get in the supermarket but can't work out if I'm right...

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burquedout t1_j202yv7 wrote

Not an Aussie but they talk about this in one of the He who fight with monsters books. In Australia key limes are called west Indian limes.

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Budpalumbo t1_j20l5ne wrote

I Live in the Midwest US, after seeing a key lime tree get down to 7 leaves by spring I was shocked it grew back and produce several fruits. They turned yellow... apparently I've never had a ripe lime before and they are amazing.

Now if the lemon tree can make it...these things are tough to grow here.

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temujin64 t1_j21wy4c wrote

Where I'm from limes are true limes. I've never seen any of those hybrid limes before.

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goopdawg t1_j20gmg9 wrote

Meyer lemons are a lemon orange hybrid as well !

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Medic7002 t1_j20u5wg wrote

I see a lot of key lime pie comments in this thread. I challenge that with calamondin pie. Superior in every way except for commercial transportation and long term storage. Now that’s a true southern Fl speciality.

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evclides OP t1_j21rkqn wrote

I make a pie with Seville oranges and it’s delicious but I just love bitter oranges

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Medic7002 t1_j21v2wo wrote

Yummy pie.

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evclides OP t1_j21wkf3 wrote

It’s really easy, basically a crema catalana in a pie crust, but you slice 2 bitter oranges, half of a lemon and half of a sweet orange into half rounds and lay them in layers at the bottom before you pour the custard in. Highly recommend!

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Medic7002 t1_j2256p8 wrote

Thank you. I believe I have a new little project. 😁

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JoinMyPestoCult t1_j20qdf6 wrote

What do they call Persian limes in Persia?

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hojjat12000 t1_j224ue0 wrote

We call Lime or Lemon both Lemon. But we have green lemon, sour lemon, rocky lemon, Omani lemon (dried),...

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KmartQuality t1_j20swuk wrote

I thought key limes came from the Florida Keys.

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evclides OP t1_j21rfqn wrote

I think the pie originated there. I remember reading a story that some lady saw fishermen in Key West take condensed milk and limes and put them on bread for lunch and decided to make that, but most recipe origins are mythological.

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LunarPayload t1_j22xfqz wrote

It's a summer pie that doesn't need baking; originating in a hot climate

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FredVIII-DFH t1_j20p9pc wrote

Mmmmmm.

Key lime pie.

Mmmmmm.

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ThatGIRLkimT t1_j21ktib wrote

This is interesting. I love limes in my alcoholic drinks

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evclides OP t1_j223080 wrote

Try cutting a lime into wedges and leaving it covered in salt in a jar on the counter for a week, it takes out the most bitter elements and you can rinse off the salt and eat them like an orange.

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Tradman86 t1_j229fgv wrote

So we're having lemon-lime flavored limes?

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