Busting bar myths: Why Corona is garnished with a lime

June 23, 3:35 AMBartender ExaminerKathleen Neves

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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.