Fresh Lime Juice – Zi limon

The fresh lime juice or zi limon is a delicious and refreshing drink that should always be served on ice. It has just the right balance of sweetness , tartness and saltiness to provide refreshment any time of the day.

Lime (Citrus aurantifolia) is a small, round green color hybrid citrus fruit with a thin skin that is grown on most islands including the coral islands. In fact, not long ago, Denis Island used to supply a lot of limes to Mahe.
Due to its acidic sour juice and unique aroma, the lime fruit is widely used as a refreshing drink all over the islands. Although the Seychellois calls this drink fresh lime juice, it is technically, more like limeade, because the juice is diluted with water and sugar is added.

Although at times the drink is also called a limonnad local, or local lemonade, it is not a lemonade, which is a drink made with lemon and is less tangy than limeade.

The lime is also used extensively in various cuisines to accent flavor. It is a common ingredient in the creole cuisine and is a must have ingredient in grilled fish and salads and in our chilli sauce.

When drinking freshly squeezed lime juice you will notice a strong sour taste on your tongue – this is because limes contain a relatively high level of citric acid which our bodies note as being sour. A sour acidic flavour, when balanced with other tastes, such as sweetness from sugar and salt, adds to the overall depth of the drink.

To get the most out of your limes, you can do two things. You can roll them across the counter while gently pressing down on them with your palm or place them in a microwave for 15 seconds, not more. If you leave limes in the microwave for too long they will explode!!

Cut limes in half, and juice them by hand or with a juicer; reserve rinds. Transfer juice and rinds to a large pitcher.

Stir in the sugar. Your standard granulated sugar will work just fine, but superfine or castor sugar (not powdered) will work even better because it dissolves easier. Be sure to stir the sugar well to help it dissolve. Keep in mind that, because you are not cooking the sugar, you may end up with a few un-dissolved grains at the bottom of your pitcher.

You will also notice that I have added some salt in the recipe. This is because salt soften the acidity and accentuate the sweetness. Yes, salt does make the acidic fruit taste sweeter. It diminishes your perception of the acidity, allowing you to taste the sugar compounds better. Furthermore, salt assist in replenishing the electrolytes in your body, especially if you are in the tropics and sweating.

When you serve the fresh lime juice avoid adding the ice directly into the pitcher, because the ice will dilute the fresh lime juice as it melts. Instead, add the ice into the glasses first, then pour the juice over the ice.

The amount of sugar is a guideline, it depends on how sweet you like your juice and how tart your particular limes are. Everyone has different preferences, and you may need to tweak the lime juice to suit yours. If it is too strong for you, add some more water. If it is too tart, add some more sugar (and some more salt, optional). If it is too sweet, add more lime juice. Stir the fresh lime juice well after each addition.

The modern version to make the fresh lime juice is to use sugar syrup instead of sugar. And if you really want to get an intense flavour, infuse the simple syrup with some of the zest from the limes and then strain the zest when the syrup has cooled down.

Selection and Storage

• Choose fresh limes that are smooth, firm and have a uniform colour. Discolored or soft spots indicate that the fruits are past its prime

• You can store limes on your kitchen counter top at room temperature for about two weeks, but if you plan to store your fruit in a refrigerator it is recommended that you wash the limes with cold water. Scrub the surface to remove any soil and rinse with cold water. Dry the fruits with paper towels or a clean, soft cloth. Fruits that are stored when wet are susceptible to mould.

• Place the cleaned, dried citrus fruit in a plastic bag, with the end slightly open, and place in the refrigerator. Limes will remain fresh for approximately 6 weeks, when stored in the refrigerator.

• Check the stored limes occasionally for any signs of mold or soft spots. Discard any fruit that is soft, moldy or discolored. Mouldy fruit will quickly contaminate the rest.

However, if you wish to freeze your juice, follow the steps below:

• I suggest that you freeze your juice in plastic ice cube trays. Using small pitcher with a spout, pour the citrus juice into ice cube trays. Each standard-sized ice cube will contain about 2 tablespoons of liquid. However, I suggest measuring the capacity of your ice cube tray to be sure.That makes it easy to squeeze what you want.
• Freeze until solid. Juice will freeze to a stage that is slightly softer than regular ice cubes.
• Remove cubes from the tray and place in a freezer resealable bag.The cubes should keep around 6 months.
• When you are ready to use the juice, remove the number of ice cubes from the freezer that you desire and let them defrost naturally.
• If you want to want to have a very zesty juice, you may wish to zest all of the limes before juicing them and placing about ¼ teaspoon of zest into the bottom of each individual cube in the tray and then gently pour in the juice into the tray making sure to cover the zest.

Here is the recipe for Fresh Lime Juice – Zi limon

Did you make this recipe?

I hope you will enjoy preparing this drink. Please let me know how it turned out for you. If you have a different version of the recipe or have related questions, please leave your comments below.
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