All About Wine Biographies Tips, etc. This article is from Chef James Ehler of Key West, Florida. This evergreen tree is in the Rue family, Rutaceae, which also includes citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons and kumquats.
Limes are native to Southeast Asia, and probably originated in Indonesia or Malaysia.
They made their way to the eastern Mediterranean with the Arabs, and to the western Mediterranean, with returning Crusaders, and eventually to the West Indies, when Columbus introduced citrus fruits there on his second voyage. These limes, used in most of the world, are what we call Key Limes. The fruit is larger than the Key Lime, more resistant to disease and pests, and has a thicker rind. Key limes which predominate in the rest of the world, are smaller, yellower in color, seedy, sourer, and grow on thorny trees which are sensitive to cold weather. As we have done with tomatoes, we have sacrificed flavor for convenience and appearance.