Sweet limes can be easily mistaken for lemons because of their yellow color. From the genus citrus aurantifola, yellow sweet limes are ripe for picking, while green ones haven't reached their full sweetness yet.

Sweet limes have a unique flavor because they have less acid than ordinary limes. In India, Vietnam, Egypt, and on the Mediterranean coast, they're grown as commercial crops. Because it's high in vitamin C and dietary fiber, sweet lime juice is used in India to soothe throat infections, nausea, and fevers.

Sweet limes can be eaten like any ripe fruit. They can also be sliced and added to water instead of lemon, or added to a citrus salad for some extra flavor -- sweet limes are a versatile fruit that can be substituted in instances that would normally call for a lime.