The first thing that catches your eye about Kermit's Key West Key Lime Shoppe is the bright yellow and lime green colors of the little shop beckoning you to come inside and try Key West's most famous tart and tangy treat. Inside we found all kinds of delicious sounding key lime products like key lime mustard dipping sauce, key lime cooler cookies ( I used to LOVE lemon cooler cookies when I was a kid), spicy key lime bbq sauce (ok, maybe that one didn't sound so great),key lime taffy, key lime jelly beans and a bunch more. What Kermit's is most famous for though is their key lime pie and we were very keen to taste it.
So what is so special about key limes anyway? key limes are smaller than their standard issued persian lime cousins. At one time they were grown commercially in the Florida Keyes (hence their name Key limes) but then the growers opted for the persian limes which are easier to pick (less thorns) and travel better because they have thicker skins. Key limes are valued for their unique flavor compared to other limes, with the Key lime usually having a more tart and bitter flavor. With increased demand for more gourmet type food the key lime is making a comeback. Key lime juice is the main ingredient in Florida's most famous dessert key lime pie.
The kids and I decided to try something unique to Kermits, a frozen piece of key lime pie on a stick. I'll admit it was creamy and delicious, but I think I should have tried a regular slice instead. The coldness took away the rich tartiness of it. Oh well, hopefully you'll benefit from our mistake. In any event, taste and take some home with you. It's mighty good (but it wasn't our favorite).
