Limes are grown on trees that flourish in tropical and subtropical climates. They were thought to originate in Southeast Asia. Arab traders brought lime trees back from their journey to Asia and introduced them into Egypt and Northern Africa around the 10th century. The Arabian Moors brought them to Spain in the 13th century and then, like many fruits, they were spread throughout southern Europe during the Crusades.

Limes made their way to the New World with Columbus on his second voyage in 1493, and were subsequently planted in many Caribbean countries whose hot, humid climates supported the cultivation of this fruit. Centuries later, British explorers and traders, who were readily using the vitamin C-rich limes that grew in their West Indies colonies to prevent scurvy, earned the nickname "limey," a word that is often still used colloquially for persons of British descent.

Lime juice is often used as a flavoring agent in foods and drinks. The juice can be mixed with other ingredients to make sauces and marinades for meats, fish and vegetable side dishes. Lime juice can be squeezed directly over dishes to add a burst of citrus or used by itself as a light salad dressing. Lime is also very popular in alcoholic beverages like mojitos and margaritas.

Limes contain unique flavonoid compounds that have antioxidant and anti-cancer properties. Of special interest in limes have been flavonoids called flavonol glycosides, including many kaempferol-related molecules. While these flavonoids have been shown to stop cell division in many cancer cell lines, they are perhaps most interesting for their antibiotic effects.

In addition to their unique phytonutrient properties, limes are an excellent source of vitamin C, one of the most important antioxidants in nature. Vitamin C is one of the main antioxidants found in food and the primary water-soluble antioxidant in the body. Vitamin C travels through the body neutralizing any free radicals with which it comes into contact in the aqueous environments in the body both inside and outside cells.

Encore Fruit Marketing can provide an excellent source of clarified lime juice concentrate to help consumer products deliver one of the 5 A Day fruit servings.

Clarified lime juice concentrate is carefully processed from fresh, ripened limes to provide the essential fresh lime flavor and nutrition, in a convenient, ready to use ingredient form for processed beverage and food applications. [Clarified lime juice concentrate is an excellent ingredient to add a fruit serving to your retail label for beverages, cakes, pies, pastries, sauces, jellies and other processed foods like nutrition bars and snacks.

Contact Encore Fruit Marketing today for product samples and information on clarified lime juice concentrate at www.encorefruit.com or Click Here to use our convenient Contact Form.