Rose's lime juice facts for kids
Rose's lime juice, often called just Rose's, is a sweet, concentrated fruit juice. It was invented in 1867 and was the world's first fruit concentrate made for sale. It is a type of lime cordial, which is a sweet drink made from lime juice.
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Why Lime Juice Became Important
In 1753, a doctor named James Lind discovered something very important. He found that eating citrus fruits like oranges and lemons could cure a disease called scurvy. Scurvy was a big problem for sailors in the British Navy because they often spent weeks at sea without fresh food.
Limes were chosen over other citrus fruits because they were easier to keep fresh for long journeys. Starting in 1795, sailors in the Royal Navy were given a daily drink of lemon or lime juice. This practice helped keep them healthy and led to non-British sailors calling them "limeys." To keep the juice from spoiling, it was often preserved by adding a small amount of rum.
The Story of Rose's
Lauchlan Rose (1829–1885) was a businessman who supplied ships in Leith, Scotland. In 1865, he found a new way to preserve lime juice without using alcohol. He received a patent for this method in 1867. Rose realized that by using sugar instead of alcohol, his product could be sold to many more people.
The first factory to make Rose's lime juice opened in Leith in 1868. This location was perfect because it was next to a major port. This made it easy to bring in limes, which don't grow in the UK, from places like Dominica in the West Indies. Later, limes also came from what is now Ghana. To make sure he always had enough limes, Rose even bought his own lime farms in Dominica in 1893. As the company grew, its main office moved to London in 1875, though production continued in Leith.
In the early 1900s, Rose's faced some competition from other companies, like A. C. Shillingford & Co. This competition was good for local lime farmers because it meant they could get better prices for their limes.
During The Blitz in 1940, which was a time of heavy bombing in London during World War II, Rose's moved its main office to St. Albans for safety. After the war, the company became even more popular in the UK. In 1957, a company called Schweppes bought Rose's. Later, in 1982, Mott's bought Rose's in the UK. In the United States, Cadbury Schweppes (which owned Schweppes) combined the operations of Rose's and Mott's. When Cadbury sold its US drink businesses in 2008, Rose's became part of a new company called Keurig Dr Pepper.
What is Rose's Product Like Today?
In the United Kingdom, Rose's Lime Juice Cordial is made and sold by Coca-Cola Enterprises Ltd. In New Zealand, it's made under the permission of Schweppes Holdings Ltd by Coca-Cola Amatil (NZ). The New Zealand label also mentions that Schweppes Holdings Ltd has a special permission from HM Queen Elizabeth II to make Schweppes and Rose's soft drinks.
Most of the limes used for Rose's today come from Mexico and Peru.
The ingredients in the modern US product usually include water, high fructose corn syrup, lime juice concentrate, a preservative called sodium metabisulfite, natural flavors, and Blue 1 food coloring. In New Zealand, the list is water, lime juice from concentrate (32%), sugar, food acid 330, and preservative 223. When mixed with water, it contains 6.4% fruit juice.
Other Rose's Products
Over the years, Rose's has added other products to its range. These include a non-alcoholic triple sec (a citrus-flavored syrup), grenadine (a sweet red syrup), and sweet and sour mix. In the early 2000s, the company also started making flavored martini drink mixers. In 2006, they added mojito flavorings to their product line.
You can also find a licensed brand of lime marmalade in the United Kingdom. In New Zealand, a lemon cordial is available, and in South Africa, you can find a passion fruit cordial. The current range includes both the original concentrated squash or cordial and ready-to-use diluted drink mixers.
See also
- Gimlet (cocktail)
- Lime cordial
- List of juices
- Rose's (marmalade)
