Rose's lime juice

Lore & Background

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. He realized 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 Leith, Scotland, in 1868, adjacent to the Old East Dock built during the Napoleonic War. This location aided both the supply of limes (which do not grow in the UK) and proximity to Scotland's principal harbour for the Royal Navy. Limes at this time largely came from Dominica in the West Indies; in 1893, Rose purchased plantations there to ensure supply, including the Bath Estate near Roseau, later supplemented by plantations in the region of Africa now known as Ghana, acquired in the early 20th century. In 1875, the company moved its headquarters to new premises in London, while retaining Leith production.

Reader's Guide

Rose's lime juice holds significance as the first commercially produced fruit concentrate, marking a shift from alcohol-based preservation to sugar-based preservation, which expanded the market for citrus products. Its origins are tied to the Royal Navy's practice of issuing lime juice to prevent scurvy, a tradition that gave British sailors the nickname 'limeys.' The company faced competition in the early 20th century from A. C. Shillingford & Co., which broke Rose's monopoly and improved prices for local lime growers. During World War II, the company moved its headquarters from the London docks to St Albans to avoid bombing. After the war, market share grew, and in 1957 Schweppes acquired the company. Ownership later passed to Mott's in 1982, then to Cadbury Schweppes, and in 2008 to Keurig Dr Pepper. Today, the product is manufactured in the UK by Coca-Cola Europacific Partners and in New Zealand by Coca-Cola Amatil, with limes sourced mainly from Mexico and Peru. The brand has expanded to include mixers, grenadine, and other cordials, maintaining its place as a classic mixer in cocktails such as the gimlet.

Did You Know?

• Rose's lime juice was the world's first commercially produced fruit concentrate, patented in 1867.
• The preservation method used sugar instead of alcohol, opening the product to a wider market.
• In 1893, Lauchlan Rose purchased lime plantations in Dominica, including the Bath Estate near Roseau.