What Does Key Lime Pie Taste Like? What Is Its Texture?
Key lime pie is a well-known sweet dessert that has been popular worldwide for many years. However, key lime pie is not a regular pie that you have been accustomed to eating as a dessert, but it is characterized by unusual flavors and tastes that not many people can eat daily. So, how does key lime pie taste like, and what is so special about this type of dessert?
Key lime pie tastes sweet and bitter. It is smaller than regular pies, and it is quite unusual due to the slightly bitter flavor. The bitterness is due to the key limes included, i.e. this pie has a higher acidity. However, this bitterness is balanced with a significant amount of sugar, making this dessert special.
If you are not really familiar with the features of key lime pie, now is your time to get to know this dessert better. Here, I have discussed the taste and texture of a key lime pie and the differences that are present between limes and key limes. If you are a beginner when it comes to key lime pies, this article will definitely be eye-opening for you.
What Is the Taste of Key Lime Pie?
Key lime pie was invented in Florida, or more precisely, a region in Florida known as the Florida Keys, and hence the name of the dessert. This pie is characterized by unique features which still impose some questions on dessert lovers. Due to its ingredients, key lime pie has quite delicate flavors and tastes, which is why this sweet treat is popular worldwide.
When you first hear the name “key lime pie,” you probably start questioning how this dessert tastes, considering that it includes key limes – fruit that is well-known for its bitter flavor. To figure out the taste of key lime pie, you first need to look at the ingredients included in this treat.
Nowadays, many key lime pie recipes go with many alterations and changes from the traditional recipe. However, the main ingredients are usually kept to preserve the original flavors of the pie.
The traditional key lime pie recipe includes key lime juice, sweetened condensed milk, and egg yolks. In the past, the recipe did not call for any baking because the mixed ingredients would make a perfectly creamy and thick texture. However, nowadays, people tend to cook key lime pies to prevent eating raw eggs.
Since there are key limes included in the pie, you would probably assume that the taste of the pie would be sour. However, key limes contain a higher acidity in comparison to limes. Therefore, the pie ends up with a slightly bitter flavor. But, this does not mean that the pie is bitter itself because it includes sugar as well.
The sweet and bitter flavors are regulated by a balance between sugar, key limes, and all other ingredients. So, in a way, the key lime pie results in a really sweet dessert, and it is, in fact, included in the group of extremely sweet desserts. Therefore, if you have a sweet tooth, you should go for a key lime pie.
Is Key Lime Supposed to Be Sour?
Because key limes are smaller and have a higher level of acidity, it is logical to assume that this pie would be sour. However, the fact is that this pie is not as sour as it is bitter. The key limes included in the pie contribute to the bitter flavor rather than sour, but you can also feel the sourness in the mouth.
On the other hand, the recipe for key lime calls for a significant amount of sugar as well. Therefore, the pie turns out sweet, not sour. You may still feel the bitter and sour flavors, but the sugar dominates in a way, so it would be right to say that this is a sweet pie rather than sour.
What Is the Texture of Key Lime Pie?
Another interesting fact about key lime pie is its unusual texture, i.e., texture that is not common for other types of pie. So, when you make a key lime pie, you should be careful to achieve the texture it is supposed to have so that you would have the right and original taste of this type of pie.
The texture is different on different parts of the pie, which can be confusing for those making the pie for the first time.
So, to make sure that you are baking a key lime pie for enough time, you should wait until the center of the pie becomes jiggly. Making the filling jiggly usually takes about 15 to 20 minutes of baking, but this is only an estimation, meaning that some ovens might need less time than this. This means that you will need to be careful and monitor your dessert while it is baking.
However, although the filling is jiggly, the key lime pie should be firm when you touch it. In other words, your pie needs to be between liquid and solid, nothing more and nothing less. Its texture can remind you of pudding. In addition, the crust and the base need to be crunchy, so you would really get the texture of a pie.
Is Key Lime Pie Cheesecake?
If you consider the texture of both key lime pie and cheesecake, you will notice that they are very similar. Therefore, many people ask why a key lime pie belongs to the group of pies, while cheesecake belongs to the group of cakes.
Their ingredients are quite similar, and they share a lot of the same features. However, there is a significant difference that puts both desserts in two separate groups.
Namely, there is milk and key lime juice in key lime pie, while in cheesecake, there is cheese and sugar. They both use eggs, but the cheesecake structure is more solid than the one in key lime pie, which is mostly due to the presence of cheese.
What Is the Difference Between Key Limes And Limes?
Many people question the difference between key limes and limes because it is not really easy to spot their differences. However, since they have different names, they surely have some different features. If you want to make a distinction, you have to look closely at their properties.
In fact, key lime is a hybrid citrus fruit that is smaller in size than lime. In other words, they look the same, but they have different sizes.
In addition, key limes contain a higher level of acidity that contributes to their more bitter flavor. Limes also have a bitter flavor, but not in the same way as do key limes.
Furthermore, key limes have thinner skin than regular limes, but they also have more seeds inside.
Key limes are characterized by a stronger citrus aroma, and they offer a unique taste. That is mostly the reason why key limes are usually more expensive than limes.
Key Lime Pie Vs. Lime Pie: Which Is Better?
Key lime pie is characterized by a stronger aroma and unique taste. The balance of sweetness and bitterness in this pie is extraordinary, and that is why many people like to enjoy it. On the other hand, lime pie is also characterized by an amazing flavor, but it is not as strong as the one in a key lime pie.
People who like unusual tastes would definitely go for key lime pie because it can satisfy the curious palates. On the other hand, people accustomed to the lime flavor, would not like to experiment a lot; therefore, they would stick to a regular lime pie.
As you can see, a key lime pie is not actually sour, but it has a unique balance of bitterness and sweetness. Key limes are considered ingredients that contribute to amazing tastes and flavors inside pies, so you should definitely try one.
