thumb|upright=.6|Rose's Lime Juice

Rose's lime juice, often known simply as Rose's, is a sweetened concentrated fruit juice patented in 1867. This was the world's first commercially produced fruit concentrate. It was discovered that preserving the juice with sugar rather than alcohol opened the product up to a far wider market.

Limes were preferred to all other citrus fruits, not because of higher vitamin C, but because they were easier to preserve.

From 1795, it became normal practice throughout all long voyages within the Royal Navy, for sailors to receive a daily ration of lemon or lime juice. This was located adjacent to the Old East Dock built during the Napoleonic War. Shillingford, with the support of relatives, bought estates from which he grew limes and then processed in two factories in Dominica. He later expanded to neighbouring islands, constructing lime processing plants in Trinidad and Grenada. This expansion broke the monopoly L. Rose & Co. held, meaning local growers of yellow limes secured better prices for their produce.

In 1940, during The Blitz, L. Rose & Co moved its headquarters from the London docks (a key German target) to St Albans. After the end of World War II, the company saw its market share in the UK grow. In 1957, Schweppes acquired the company and operated it in the UK until it was purchased by Mott's in 1982. Cadbury Schweppes merged the operations of the two brands in the United States and Rose's US products became domestically produced.

When Cadbury divested its US beverage operations in 2008, Rose's was transferred to the newly formed Keurig Dr Pepper.

Product

In the United Kingdom, Rose's Lime Juice Cordial is manufactured and distributed by Coca-Cola Enterprises Ltd. In New Zealand, the label states it is made under "the authority" of Schweppes Holdings Ltd by Coca-Cola Amatil (NZ). It also bears the notation that Schweppes Holdings Ltd holds a Royal Warrant to HM Queen Elizabeth II as manufacturers of Schweppes and Rose's soft drinks.

The majority of limes are now sourced from Mexico and Peru.

thumb|New Zealand ingredient list (2013)

The ingredients in the modern US product, listed in order of concentration are water, high fructose corn syrup, lime juice concentrate, sodium metabisulfite (preservative #223), natural flavors, Blue 1. Comparatively, in New Zealand, the list is water, lime juice from concentrate (32%), sugar, food acid 330, and preservative 223 – and when mixed 1:4 (20% concentrate), contains 6.4% fruit juice.

Brands

Over its history the company added other products to its line-up, including a non-alcoholic triple sec, grenadine, and sweet and sour. The company added a line of flavoured martini drink mixers in the early 2000s. In 2006, the company expanded its product line to feature a brand of mojito flavourings.

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  • Rose's UK web site