I chose key lime pie as my topic
mainly because I know basically nothing about it besides how it tastes. Before doing any research on it, I knew that
it was strongly associated with the state of Florida (specifically the Florida
Key’s), and that there must be some cultural significance related to this
association.
Key Lime Pie has a very distinguished flavor and texture. The crust is traditionally made from graham
crackers and holds a sweet, tangy lime based filling consisting of egg yolks,
sweetened condensed milk, cream, lime juice and lime zest. The pie is usually topped with either whipped
cream or meringue (egg whites, sugar, salt and cornstarch), depending on one’s
personal preference. There is very
little nutritional value to Key Lime Pie.
It is not a food that is meant to be eaten for sustenance but instead as
a treat.
The exact origin of the pie is
unknown but there are many theories to how it became a popular desert. The pies
are believed to originate in Key West, with the first likely made sometime
after the Civil War, when canned sweetened condensed milk became popular. The
Key lime tree was indigenous to Malaysia and most likely was brought to Florida
in the 1500s by the Spanish. After its introduction to America, it began to
become an important crop for the economy of the south east. The climate was very suitable for its growth,
leading to the development of plantations to optimize profits from lime
sales. Thus the increase in the usage of
condensed milk and the convenience of key limes likely lead to its
creation.
One popular theory for an exact origin is that
key lime pie was first served to William Curry, a Key West millionaire who
lived in the late 1800s. It is believed Curry’s
cook could have gotten the recipe from spongers, who lived on boats when they
collected live sponges from the sea. They would often take condensed milk on
the boats to have something sweet that wouldn’t spoil and would likely have key
limes and eggs on hand. The pies gained
popularity because they didn’t need to be cooked (the acid in lime juice reacts
with the condensed milk causing the filling to thicken) making it a very
convenient desert option. Today, Key Lime Pie is the state pie of Florida.
Currently, Key Lime pie is a very
popular desert eaten by many people in different regions. There are variations
though these mainly concern the type of topping used. It can be made at home or
ordered at a restaurant, and can be eaten on any occasion. Most key lime pies no longer are made from
Florida limes, however. In 1992 there
was an outbreak of bacteria which caused disease in the Key lime tree, as well
as a brutal hurricane season which almost annihilated the species. Today Key limes are not sold commercially out
of Florida, but remain a common tree in residential areas.
The Key lime pie may have very little
meaning to a person not from Florida other than being a delicious dish. To people from Florida, specifically the
keys, this dish serves as a reminder of their identity as a state and region.
The commercial production of citrus fruits has long been an important
contributor to Florida’s economy. Citrus
foods therefor are an important part of these people’s lives for more than
their nutritional value. Though Key
limes are no longer sold on a large scale, they are still grown locally and
made into pies for the local population to consume and remember this important
aspect of their history.
Sources
http://www.foodnetwork.com/topics/key-lime-pie-recipes.html -- (INGREDIANTS)
Oh I had no idea about the key lime problem. I only learned that key limes are not just random limes from the keys but a special lime when I came here from Britain. And I have to say they are delicious! This was really interesting - thank you.
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