The lime is a very overlooked fruit in the US. It's use is pretty much restricted to margaritas and Key Lime Pie. I certainly never kept limes in the house. They were expensive and would often shrivel up in the fridge before I got around to using them. But here in Mazatlan, the lime is as pervasive as the tomato, and I always have 15 or 20 around.

Of course, my favorite application of the lime is with little sea salt squeezed into an ice-cold Pacifico. Most establishments here actually keep the beer in ice, so you can always get a good, cold one. Every establishment also keeps a steady supply of limes. They don't quarter them, they cut the sides off, so you get nice, seed-free pieces. I always get a bowl of fresh cut limes dripping with juice and a side of sea salt whenever I order a beer. I don't even have to ask.

The beer lime relationship goes beyond the squeeze for a little zing and refreshment. I watched one man take his lime and thoroughly rub the entire rim of the bottle with it after squeezing the juice into the bottle. When I asked what on Earth the purpose of that was, he responded, "it keeps the flies away." I watched, and he was right.

Of course, limes aren't just a beer condiment. You will get a side of limes with any meat or fish dish you order. Even the smallest of taco carts will offer you limes. If you get your food to go, when you get home and open the bag, you will find a small, tied baggie filled with cut limes.

The lime itself is the star of a limonada, an elevated version of limeade. You can get a limonada almost everywhere, and there is nothing more refreshing in the middle of a Mazatlan summer. Fresh squeezed lime, sugar, salt, and water. You will usually have a choice of natural or mineral – plain water or sparkling. Limonada mineral is the drink of the gods. Plus, since it's almost always served in a giant schooner, you look like you are drinking a margarita, a good duck on those social occasions where you don't feel like drinking.

By far, the best food application of the lime is ceviche. Ceviche is fish that is "cooked" in lime juice. Here in mazatlan the recipe also often includes onion and shredded carrot. A great way to while away a beautiful Mazatlan afternoon is to sit in one of the palapas in the beach, drink some cold beer, and snack on some ceviche on tostadas while watching the tide come in.

Mango season has just arrived, and with it returns one of my favorite snacks: mango chunks sprinkled with lime and salt. I have never tasted anything so wonderful in my life. Many people also sprinkle on chile powder, but I think that ruins it. The same preparation also works well with julienned jicama.

As if all this divine eating weren't enough, limes also have many non-food applications. I laugh at the restaurants here. They put a napkin holder full of tiny, cheap napkins on the table. By the end of a meal, we've usually used all that are available. I always felt really bad, especially after I noticed that Mexicans never seemed to have the same problem. I asked one of my friends about this, and he showed me the trick. One napkin is used for minor finger dabbing during the meal. Then, at the end of the meal, one of the lime halves from the table is discreetly rubbed between the hands and then dried on the napkin. Voila! Fresh, clean, hands.

We were out one afternoon and stopped in one of our regular restaurants. My favorite waiter was just arriving for his shift, and his hair looked fuzzy. As I greeted him, he explained that he was out of hair gel and ran behind the bar and grabbed a half of lime. He squeezed the juice into his hand and rubbed it through his hair. I watched him for a couple of hours, and noticed that his hair stayed in place wonderfully.

Limes also have medical applications. They are a pretty good antimicrobial and antibacterial, killing 25% of all the germs. Limes are rubbed on minor cuts and scrapes to disinfect the wound. There is also a treatment for dehydration that involves limes, sugar, salt, and water that is frequently used here locally. It's so effective that is is recommended by the World Heath Organization.

As if saving your life isn't enough, limes will also save your clothes. My neighbor's son is in kindergarten. Some misguided soul decided that the uniforms for his school should be all white. I'm sure all the moms out there are rolling their eyes, because you know what a kindergartener can do to a white pair of pants. Grass stains, rust stains, blood, lunch, Monica gets rid of it all by rubbing the stain with salt and lime and hanging the pants in the sun. The stains vanish.

I never knew there were so many uses for limes. I am sure I haven't learned even a fraction of them. The lime here is plentiful and cheap, a good combination. The next time you are in the market, pause and think of the lime, and toss a couple into your basket.