Lime

A lime is a small, green citrus fruit with thin, glossy skin. Its juice is sharply tart with a bright, perfumed aroma, and the zest carries concentrated oils that enliven dishes; common uses include finishing grilled foods, building vinaigrettes and marinades, shaking cocktails, and baking with zest and juice; sold whole, as juice, and as dried zest.\n\nOriginating in Southeast Asia, limes spread via Indian Ocean trade and later to the Americas through colonial routes. They feature prominently in Mexican, Thai, Vietnamese, and Caribbean cuisines, with Persian limes dominant commercially and key limes valued for distinctive aroma in desserts.