The cultivar ‘Santa Barbara’ does not taste as sour as many other cultivars of this species of lime. It is also orange in colour and has a perfume-like aroma and a slightly soapy taste. The artepitheton refers to the leaves, which resemble the bitter orange (C.× aurantium).

The key lime, to which the variety ‘Santa Barbara’ belongs, differs from the common lime (C. × latifolia) by a smaller fruit and more seeds. However, both types are used in the same way: to obtain sour juice, to season sweet (key lime pie!) and spicy dishes (as dried “loomi”) and of course for cocktails, especially caipirinha. When fully ripe, limes are yellow, but they are usually harvested and traded green.

• Edible Fruits
• Type of Fruit Hesperidium
• Culinary Group Citrus Fruits
• Taste sour aromatic
• Trivial Names Santa-Barbara-Limette, Echte Limette, Mexikanische Limette, Saure Limette, Key lime, West Indian lime, Bartender's lime, Omani lime, Mexican Lime, Limettier, Limettier Mexicain, Lime acide, Limettier des Antilles, Citronnier gallet
• Size 5 cm
• Taxonomy Rutaceae (rue family) Citrus × aurantifolia 'Santa Barbara'
• Origin South-Asia (Map)
• Locality Palmengarten Frankfurt (FRP) 2019