Rose's lime juice
Rose's lime juice, often known simply as Rose's, is a sweetened concentrated fruit juice patented in 1867. This was the world's first commercially produced fruit concentrate.
Background
In 1753,
Limes were preferred to all other citrus fruits, not because of higher vitamin C, but because they were easier to preserve.[2]
From 1795, it became normal practice throughout all long voyages within the Royal Navy, for sailors to receive a daily ration of lemon or lime juice. This quickly gave rise to the nickname "limeys" amongst non-British sailors, which arises in the early 19th century. The preservation of the fruit juice was usually done through the addition of 15% rum.[3]
History
Lauchlan Rose (1829–1885), a ship chandler in Leith, began a process for preserving lime juice in 1865 and patented this method to preserve citrus juice without alcohol in 1867.[3][4] He had realised that preserving the juice with sugar rather than alcohol opened the product up to a far wider market.
The first factory producing lime juice was set up as L. Rose & Co. on Commercial Street in
In 1875, the company had grown so much that it built and moved its headquarters to new premises in
When Cadbury divested its US beverage operations in 2008, Rose's was transferred to the newly formed Keurig Dr Pepper.[6]
Product
In the United Kingdom, Rose's Lime Juice Cordial is manufactured and distributed by
The majority of limes are now sourced from Mexico and Peru.
The ingredients in the modern US product, listed in order of concentration are water,
In popular culture
Rose's Lime Juice makes an appearance in Raymond Chandler’s 1953 novel The Long Goodbye. One of the characters, Terry Lennox, tells the detective Philip Marlowe. “A real gimlet is half gin and half Rose’s Lime Juice and nothing else. It beats martinis hollow.” [9]
Brands
Over its history the company added other products to its line-up, including a non-alcoholic triple sec, grenadine, and sweet and sour. The company added a line of flavoured martini drink mixers in the early 2000s. In 2006, the company expanded its product line to feature a brand of mojito flavourings.[6]
A licensed brand of lime marmalade is also produced in the United Kingdom, and a lemon cordial is also available in New Zealand. A passion fruit cordial is available in South Africa.
The current range includes both the original concentrated squash or cordial and also diluted drink mixers.
See also
References
- ISBN 0-684-87181-5.
- ^ Made in Scotland: Roses Lime Juice, by Carol Foreman
- ^ ISBN 978-1-84158-725-7
- ^ Maitland, V. County of Pembroke, Shipwreck Report: Port of Ngqura, South Africa. Vanessa Maitland. p. 190.
- ^ Made in Scotland, by Carol Foreman
- ^ a b "Keurig Dr Pepper, Our brands:Rose's". Retrieved 2009-07-24.
- ^ "What's in Rose's Lime Cordial?". ask.metafilter.com. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
- ^ "Rose's Sweetened Lime Juice". www.dpsgproductfacts.com. Retrieved 2019-06-15.
- ^ Magazine, Smithsonian; Gan, Vicky. "Slurred Lines: Great Cocktail Moments in Famous Literature". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2023-05-18.