7 June: Lime

Today's celebration in the French Revolutionary Calendar was the Lime tree. Here are a few things you might not know about limes:

1. Limes were first cultivated in what is today Southern Iraq. They can only grow where there is no frost in winter.
2. Today the biggest producers are China, India and Mexico, producing 43% of the world's supply between them.
3. Limes do not contain as much Vitamin C as Lemons, but 100 grams still provides 35% of the daily requirement.
4. Lime is an ingredient in several cocktails, including Gin and Tonic, the gimlet, the Rickey and the Margarita.
5. Phytophotodermatitis is a skin condition people can get if their skin is exposed to lime juice or peel and then to ultraviolet light. The skin can darken or blister. Bartenders can be prone to it because they handle the fruit when making those cocktails.
6. The world's first fizzy drink was lime juice, when, in 1767 a Dr. Macbride suggested mixing fresh lime juice with bicarbonate of soda.
7. Lime is always in season - the trees bloom and produce fruit all year round, but they produce more in summer.
8. There are several species of citrus trees whose fruits are called limes, including the Key lime, Persian lime, kaffir lime, and desert lime.
9. Lime is used frequently in cooking, especially in Indian and Persian cuisine. The flavour comes from the zest rather than the juice.
10. The Shipping Act, 1867 requires all registered ships to carry supplies of lime or lemon juice. This act remains in force today. This is because the high vitamin C content meant if the sailors were given a daily allowance of the juice they were much less likely to get scurvy. Because this meant military ships could remain at sea for longer, lime juice was initially a military secret. The use of lime juice by British sailors is the reason they came to be known as "limeys".