I'd hear of key lime pie but had always thought key was for kiwi and the pie was a kiwi, lime pie. Why I thought this would be a traditional southern delicacy, as kiwis are not at all native to the US, I can't say. But then, another speciality is banana pudding and bananas don't come from the US either! I've since discovered that key limes are a type of lime found in Florida, highly prized for their sharp, fragrant taste.
Basically, key lime pie is a lot like lemon meringue pie without the meringue. There's a biscuit crumb base – Graham Cracker usually which you can buy already crumbed, gotta love the States! This buttery base is topped with a thick, tart topping very much like lemon curd only with lime, obviously. While in the North Carolina I tried 3 different versions of this pie, the first topped with whipped cream, the second two simply garnished with a slice of lime. I am in love with this pie, I have never been one for sweet heavy desserts so after a nice serving of rich southern food, the key lime pie is a welcome full stop. Fragrant, quite light and the acidic lime is something of a palette cleanser. Perfection in a pie.
