Corona is the #1 selling beer in Mexico, the #1 selling Mexican beer in the world and the #4 selling beer in the world. Corona is considered a pale lager that is made with water, barley, hops and yeast and is served in a clear bottle. I have served thousands of Coronas during my bartending career so far and have always wandered why Corona is always garnished with a lime wedge in the neck of the bottle.
During my research to answer this question, I couldn’t find one particular source that could give me one particular answer. Instead, I found a bunch of theories as to why Corona is always served with a lime.
Theory #1:
Whenever beer is exposed to sunlight or heat, it develops a skunky taste. This is why most beers on the market are served in dark bottles. Corona is served in a clear bottle. Therefore, the purpose for the lime to be served with the Corona is to mask that skunky taste.
Theory #2:
Serving a lime with a bottle of Corona was originally intended for sanitary purposes. The lime was used to disinfect the rim of the bottle.
Theory #3:
A bartender in Mexico started the trend of serving Corona with a lime because it was the presence of citrus fruit (lime or lemon) that would keep flies away from entering the bottle so that fly spray wouldn’t have to be used. The use of fly spray was blamed for altering the taste of the beer. According to this theory, the lime was just supposed to stay in the neck of the bottle. It was actually tourists whom started pushing the lime into the bottle. Apparently, people of Mexico enjoy their Corona minus the lime.
Theory #4:
The lime in the Corona bottle was a marketing gimmick that stuck with the gringos. That’s why you see limes in all of the Corona bottles in advertisements.
Theory #5:
Limes are a cheap commodity in Mexico therefore they are added to most drinks and not just bottles of Corona.
After much frustration of not getting my question answered clearly in my research, I decided to contact Corona myself. I asked Corona why it is that bottles of Corona are always garnished with a lime, what purpose does the lime serve and how did the lime tradition come to be. Unfortunately, I have yet to receive a response from Corona.
For more information on Corona products and history, be sure to check out Corona.com.
Comments
I'm thinking theory # 1 is what started it, and theory # 4 is what keeps this swill popular.
I'll have a Becks with my burger, if you please. It actually tastes like a mild, likeable beer.
With no fruit needed.
I can respect that. In fact, I always smile when a customer orders a beer (Corona or a wheat beer) and ask me to "hold the fruit salad."
Still waiting for Corona to get back to me. It's a good thing I'm not holding my breath.
#4 sounds like a winner to me. I'm not a huge fan, but I'll drink it when nothing else decent is around.
You could try asking Cecil Adams at The Straight Dope... straightdope dot com because i cannot include a url.
The answer is in the book Buyology by Martin Lindstrom. I forget the exact story, but it has something to do with a random bet and a marketing gimmick. Nothing to do with Mexico or beer history.
Actually Jeffrey, the thing I have discovered through my extensive research on various bar myths and the origins of classic cocktails is that there usually isn't one, end-all, be-all straight story. There are many different versions of the original story. In most cases, it's near impossible to label which of the versions of the story is the exact original one. This is why I include many different theories and versions when I discuss the history and origins of things.
you are all wrong there was an old gringo called peepya. He had a lime bar and needed a drink to go with it, and he created corona. Which means the drink of citrus flavours.
Theory #2 is the one I have always preached.
And for the record Salisbury, Corona does not mean the drink of citrus flavours. Corona is the spanish word for Crown.
This article was truly amazing and eye opening
It actually came from British sailors. They were given a slice of lime with their daily ration of grog in order to prevent scurvy. The rest is history
the urban legend that i have heard is that it was a bet between a bartender and his beer distributor. the bartender maintained that the popularity of any beer had little to nothing to do with personal tastes but rather the power of marketing. He bet that he could make any beer more popular with a catchy gimmick. The beer distributor got to pick the beer and the bartender had to boost its sales. the legend says that the bartender won the bet in the lime idea caught on and spread. it's an intriguing stories and 1 that i could believe could happen.
reason for the lime is.... back in the days the water filtration was weak in Mexico, often you will find sand and small pebbles after their filtration system....so the lime is to filter the sand and pebbles. when you drink if from the bottle notice it has to run through the neck of the bottle where the lime is wedged....and also lime is dirt cheap there ;)
I say: Marketing Scheme...But all of your reasons sound just as convincing to me.
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Me, I'm more of a Modello girl Myself, and I do like a lime there, too! ;)
I'd posit another theory entirely: it's the only way to make Corona drinkable.
Great story. I hope they get back with you s we may find out once and for all. : )
the whole corona with lime thing was a rumor started by 2 friends that owned a bar in california who wanted to see how far it would go.. world wide apparently
Why is Hoegaarden served with a lemon? For the same reason: it tastes good. The citric acid in these fruits brings out the flavor. It would be impossible to get the same acidity if the fruit juice was already mixed in with beer. To me, this answer seems completely obvious. Why do people always have to have a mystery, when common sense is usually the answer? haha
The bar tender bet thing is the true story. It is a marketing gimmick. The other stories are all made up. The bartender inadvertently created a 'ritual' which is the holy grail in marketing products like this. Grupo Modelo (owners) and their agencies then latched onto this for improving and sustaining the ritual in marketing. and thats your answer.
The reason limes or lemons are added to caronas is because the most expensive part of making caronas is the bottle. So Mexican bars and brewery's used to re-use bottles to save money, so to kill any germs without adding a sour taste from cleaning products they used citrus through adding lemon and lime.
It is reason #1. I spoke with a chemist that worked for them.
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