Here’s a mystery perhaps one of our Turkish friends can solve: I’ve never, ever, ever seen a lime in this country. My guess is they just don’t have them here, which hardly makes sense because Turkey is a huge citrus producer. But if you order a shot of tequila, it gets served with salt and a wedge of lemon. Wrong. I asked the bartender, “can I have a slice of lime?” He looked at me blankly. I tried to explain about limes. Same shape as a lemon, but green, and tastes different. He just continued on with his blank look. I finally gave up and reluctantly drank my tequila with lemon.
That incident happened a long time ago, and to be honest I’d forgotten about it until about a week ago when we bought some henna and lime shampoo. The label was written in English, with a Turkish translation below. I noticed the Turkish text said “henna and green lemon.” No, no, no! Not the same thing at all. To say that a lime is simply a green lemon is like saying that a grapefruit is just a big orange. No!
So I asked Emirhan, and he didn’t seem to know what a lime was, either. We looked it up in our Turkish-English dictionary, and the respective translations for “lime” and “lemon” were exactly the same— both are called “lemon” in Turkish. I’m frustrated about this, because a lime is certainly not a lemon, though many Turks have looked at the photos of limes I’ve shown them and said, “that’s just a lemon that’s not ready yet.” Sigh.
The reason this annoys me is because in almost every instance that one might use a lemon for something, I would prefer a lime. This is particularly true in the summer— almost every summer of my adult life I’ve made watermelon with lime syrup as a light snack or dessert. Lemon syrup is not the same; it’s like eating watermelon with furniture polish. But I can’t find limes here.
I know some of my readers are Turks who have moved abroad to Europe or the United States, where limes are in abundance, so for those of you who know what a lime is: is it possible to find them in Turkey? I’m pulling my hair out here, because the watermelon season is upon us (as is the tequila season), and it’s just not the same with lemon. I also like lime in my Coca-Cola, and on certain types of fish, and in countless other dishes. I’d also be interested to know if readers in surrounding countries (I know a few of you are reading from Arab nations, and also some from Israel) have limes in their local markets. Perhaps it’s just a conspiracy to keep limes out of Turkey. Maybe I’ll have to smuggle a lime tree in and grow some myself.
I feel your plight. It isn’t so many years since limes were rarely seen where I live. Now they’re available at every supermarket and most bigger convenience stores. Still, many bars still didn’t have limes back when I still went out clubbing, only a few years ago. I once watched in horror as a bartender at a big nightclub prepared a “margarita” by squirting that lemon juice, which comes in small plastic bottles shaped like a lemon, into the mix.
Lime? Fresh lime? Nope. Ghastly.
I feel your plight. It isn’t so many years since limes were rarely seen where I live. Now they’re available at every supermarket and most bigger convenience stores. Still, many bars still didn’t have limes back when I still went out clubbing, only a few years ago. I once watched in horror as a bartender at a big nightclub prepared a “margarita” by squirting that lemon juice, which comes in small plastic bottles shaped like a lemon, into the mix.
Lime? Fresh lime? Nope. Ghastly.
I’ll go out on a limb here and say that if you can’t find it in Antalya, it probablly doesn’t exist in Turkey.
I’ll go out on a limb here and say that if you can’t find it in Antalya, it probablly doesn’t exist in Turkey.
I haven’t seen limes here in Sicily either. Lots of green lemons, but no limes. But since we’re at an American military base, I can get them from our grocery store on base.
I haven’t seen limes here in Sicily either. Lots of green lemons, but no limes. But since we’re at an American military base, I can get them from our grocery store on base.
I am surprised to read that there are no Limes in Turkey. If you are determined to get some, I would ring a few Asian restaurants in Turkey and ask where they source this fruit from. You could also ring some of the 5 star hotels, as they would probably use Limes too.
I am surprised to read that there are no Limes in Turkey. If you are determined to get some, I would ring a few Asian restaurants in Turkey and ask where they source this fruit from. You could also ring some of the 5 star hotels, as they would probably use Limes too.
That is so interesting. I wonder how the Turkish would react when they actually taste/see some REAL green old lime.
That is so interesting. I wonder how the Turkish would react when they actually taste/see some REAL green old lime.
I would think the climate in Turkey would be PERFECT for growing limes. . .I’m surprised they’re not! Why don’t you go to Ebay (or other such websites) and see if you can buy a lime tree? They’re easy to grow – I bet you could do it! 🙂 If we can grow one just fine here in Hot, Texas, it should do fine.
I would think the climate in Turkey would be PERFECT for growing limes. . .I’m surprised they’re not! Why don’t you go to Ebay (or other such websites) and see if you can buy a lime tree? They’re easy to grow – I bet you could do it! 🙂 If we can grow one just fine here in Hot, Texas, it should do fine.
I’ll send you some seeds!
I’ll send you some seeds!
I think I’ve seen imported lime sold in Metro Grossmarkets in Istanbul, although I’m not 100 % sure.
I think I’ve seen imported lime sold in Metro Grossmarkets in Istanbul, although I’m not 100 % sure.
You ara right Melissa, we Turks just dont use limes. Part reason is that we have abundant supplies of lemon, so no one notices the difference. Other is we do not have a lime-based culture. Things like margarita, tequila, lime tart, sorbet or syrup are not traditional so we just dont pay attention to difference. I was looking to buy some lime trees a few years ago when I was planting my garden, but I also had blank faces from suppliers that time. If you can manage to find a supply of saplings, just let me know too. I would love to have a lime tree in my garden. (I dont think one can grow lime tree from seed)
You ara right Melissa, we Turks just dont use limes. Part reason is that we have abundant supplies of lemon, so no one notices the difference. Other is we do not have a lime-based culture. Things like margarita, tequila, lime tart, sorbet or syrup are not traditional so we just dont pay attention to difference. I was looking to buy some lime trees a few years ago when I was planting my garden, but I also had blank faces from suppliers that time. If you can manage to find a supply of saplings, just let me know too. I would love to have a lime tree in my garden. (I dont think one can grow lime tree from seed)
@Kalli: we had that plastic bottle lemon juice in England, also – perhaps it’s a European thing.
@Kalli: we had that plastic bottle lemon juice in England, also – perhaps it’s a European thing.
@Jake: sadly, I think you’re probably right. I guess that means you don’t have them in Adana, eh?
@Jake: sadly, I think you’re probably right. I guess that means you don’t have them in Adana, eh?
@Nicole: ah yes, the Italian green lemon, I remember those. They’re lovely, and I love how produce in Italian markets is all irregularly shaped and “ugly” and the most flavourful stuff in the world. But also thank goodness for being able to get foreign stuff on base!
@Nicole: ah yes, the Italian green lemon, I remember those. They’re lovely, and I love how produce in Italian markets is all irregularly shaped and “ugly” and the most flavourful stuff in the world. But also thank goodness for being able to get foreign stuff on base!
@Ardent: I can say from my extensive experience with 5-star hotels here that none of the ones I’ve been in have had limes (in fact, it was at a 5-star where the tequila story happened). As for Asian restaurants, aside from a few western-style Chinese places we don’t really have those, either. And the chinese restaurant we found didn’t want to tell us anything about where they bought stuff (I tried to ask them where they got their tofu, and they told me that if I wanted tofu I could come in and eat at their restaurant).
@Ardent: I can say from my extensive experience with 5-star hotels here that none of the ones I’ve been in have had limes (in fact, it was at a 5-star where the tequila story happened). As for Asian restaurants, aside from a few western-style Chinese places we don’t really have those, either. And the chinese restaurant we found didn’t want to tell us anything about where they bought stuff (I tried to ask them where they got their tofu, and they told me that if I wanted tofu I could come in and eat at their restaurant).
@Vivian: my guess is the initial reaction wouldn’t be great. Turkish cuisine is very set in its ways; if you try to modify things they don’t always take it so well. But there are enough foreigners living in this area that I would think there’d be a market for an expat commissary of sorts.
@Vivian: my guess is the initial reaction wouldn’t be great. Turkish cuisine is very set in its ways; if you try to modify things they don’t always take it so well. But there are enough foreigners living in this area that I would think there’d be a market for an expat commissary of sorts.
@Jen: yeah, I think you’re right, the next plan is to see where I can source saplings and go from there. Getting them in the country is the tricky part, though.
@Jen: yeah, I think you’re right, the next plan is to see where I can source saplings and go from there. Getting them in the country is the tricky part, though.
@taujb: ooooooh, if that’s true then I need to hook up with them and see what I do to get some shipped down here. Thanks for the tip!
@taujb: ooooooh, if that’s true then I need to hook up with them and see what I do to get some shipped down here. Thanks for the tip!
@Cahit: yeah, but limes and lemons taste completely different, as you know. We should make it our goal to source some saplings and start a lime thing here. 😀
@Cahit: yeah, but limes and lemons taste completely different, as you know. We should make it our goal to source some saplings and start a lime thing here. 😀
@djhomeless: from what I understand, you need saplings rather than seeds, which might be difficult to get in the country. Not sure, though.
@djhomeless: from what I understand, you need saplings rather than seeds, which might be difficult to get in the country. Not sure, though.
@Melissa: Yep, it’s official, I’ve seen, with my own eyes not 2 hrs. ago, that they do indeed sell lime in Istanbul. It was in CarrefourSA this time around. It’s, however, 18.-YTL / Kg. and that’s expensive! Apparently they are imported all the way from Brasil.
Just wanted to let you know.
@Melissa: Yep, it’s official, I’ve seen, with my own eyes not 2 hrs. ago, that they do indeed sell lime in Istanbul. It was in CarrefourSA this time around. It’s, however, 18.-YTL / Kg. and that’s expensive! Apparently they are imported all the way from Brasil.
Just wanted to let you know.
I guess asking for a green lemon doesn’t work, huh? :p
I guess asking for a green lemon doesn’t work, huh? :p
@taujb: yikes, considering that lemons are 1ytl per kg, 18 is tremendously expensive. Hell, fish and shrimp don’t even cost that much! Wow.
Thanks for your research, though. If I get really desperate for limes I’ll let you know. 😀
@taujb: yikes, considering that lemons are 1ytl per kg, 18 is tremendously expensive. Hell, fish and shrimp don’t even cost that much! Wow.
Thanks for your research, though. If I get really desperate for limes I’ll let you know. 😀
@Eugene: well, yeah, you can ask for a green lemon, but you’ll get just that – a lemon that isn’t completely ripe yet. Turks are quite fond of fruit that isn’t ripe (plums especially – they like them crispy and green), which I know sounds terrible, but I’ve managed to avoid eating too much underripe fruit so far.
@Eugene: well, yeah, you can ask for a green lemon, but you’ll get just that – a lemon that isn’t completely ripe yet. Turks are quite fond of fruit that isn’t ripe (plums especially – they like them crispy and green), which I know sounds terrible, but I’ve managed to avoid eating too much underripe fruit so far.