Key lime pie | Citrus Dessert, Florida Origin, Graham Cracker Crust (2024)

FAQs

Where did the original key lime pie come from? ›

United States

Key lime pie / Origin

The main difference is that it requires more aromatic Key lime juice to make the famous pie sing. It is worth the elbow grease to get that authentic floral Key lime flavor—unless you can't find Key limes. Then swap them out for whatever you see at the grocery store and dig in.

One theory is that the treat originated from a sponge fisherman. Sponge fishing was a booming business in Florida and rations on the boat like sugar, eggs, canned milk, soda crackers, some nuts, and citrus fruit were cheap. Consequently, the fishermen concocted this tart, sweet treat and brought it on land.

It's hard to imagine the Florida Keys without Key lime pie. Just as New York is famed for its thin-crust pizza, New Orleans for its beignets and Alaska for its king crab, the island chain is known for its tart, creamy pie.

15.052 Official state pie. —Key lime pie is designated as the official Florida state pie.

Henry Perrine is credited with introducing the Key lime to Florida. From the Caribbean, lime cultivation spread to tropical and subtropical North America, including Mexico, Florida, and later California.

The sweet and tart pie reportedly originated in Key West, Florida, in the late 19th century. The use of sweetened condensed milk, an essential ingredient, is probably because fresh milk and refrigeration were uncommon in the isolated Florida Keys until the 1930s.

The BEST Key Lime Pie. Edward's is the perfect Key Lime pie. Such a creamy texture and the perfect natural lime flavor with just a dash of sweetness for balance.

Persian limes, which are typically just labeled “limes” in U.S. grocery stores and in recipes, have origins in Persia, or present-day Iran. Key limes are native to Southeast Asia but get their name from the Florida Keys, where they were later harvested.

Key lime pie was invented in Key West, where Key limes are anything but scarce. Key limes are different from regular limes. Key limes are more aromatic, smaller, seedier and are more tart than regular limes. Key lime pie is the Sunshine State's official state pie.

What place is famous for key lime pie? ›

Key West Key lime pie.

WHEREAS: Key Lime Pie was designated the Official State Pie of Florida in 2006 and has served proudly as the de facto State Dessert for 16 years, and Strawberry Shortcake has never received a state designation.

ORLANDO, Fla.

- Move over, key lime pie. Florida has another state dessert – strawberry shortcake. Gov. DeSantis recently signed SB 1006, which designated the fluffy dessert and all of its strawberry and whipped cream goodness, as the official state dessert, which went into effect on July 1, 2022.

The more popular name, simply the Keys, is derived from the Spanish word Cayo (“small island”). The powerful Gulf Stream, the main shipping route to Mexico and the Caribbean, passes close to the long chain of reefs off the Keys.

The history of the Key Lime Pie goes back to the late 1800's when fresh dairy was hard to come by in South Florida. Aunt Sally in the Florida Keys had the crazy idea of combining just 3 ingredients – sweetened condensed milk, egg yolks, key lime juice – to make the creamy, yellow, tangy filling.

Key limes—also known as Mexican limes or West Indies limes—are small, spherical limes that grow in tropical and subtropical regions. They're light yellow (not green) when ripe and contain more seeds than regular limes. Their skin is also very thin, which means they don't store well.

When preparing an authentic Key lime pie, either a graham cracker crust or a pastry crust is acceptable. As are both meringue and whipped cream for topping. The color, however, is not a matter of choice. Genuine Key lime pies are yellow.