What a better refreshment in the hot summer days than a glass of natural lime juice? Lime juice truly is a heavenly tasty beverage and beside being a refreshment beverage, natural lime juice is an important ingredient in many Latin American and Caribbean dishes.

To beat the hot summer days, make a refreshing limeade by mixing water and sugar, which is an extremely sweet drink opposite of lemonade. It is really easy to make your own natural lime juice at home from fresh limes. This juice is extremely refreshing and what is more important, it is 100% natural and much more flavourful than the bottle concentrated juice you get at a supermarket. Stay with us if you want to learn how to make lime juice.

Instructions

1. The first thing to do is to buy limes. They are usually smaller than your fist and should have glossy and deep, bright green colour skin. The lime needs to be firm but not hard as a rock.

2. Whole fresh limes can be stored in the refrigerator for two weeks or more, or at room temperature (out of direct sunlight) for a week or two. However, keep in mind that if you keep them in the refrigerator, allow them to come to room temperature before juicing.

3. Before making the lime juice, put the fruit in a bowl filled with cold water and baking soda for at least 1 hour; rinse with clean water and dry them.

4. Once done, slice each lime in half with a sharp knife and if you have a citrus juicer, squeeze or press the lime halves according to the juicer directions.

5. If you don’t have a juicer, squeeze each lime half over a bowl until you have extracted whole juice. Remove any seeds or pulp from the juice.

6. It is recommended to consume the freshly squeezed natural lime juice immediately, however it can be stored in a tightly sealed jar or container in the refrigerator for about two weeks. You can also freeze lime juice in ice cube trays; usable for up to six months or more.

7. If you want to get more from the lime, do not throw the rind away. You can use the lime peel to make lime zest by gently rubbing the outside of the lime against a fine grater. The fresh lime zest should be used immediately or you can dry it in an oven at low heat and store it for 2 – 3 months.