Old sour

Old Sour is a sauce, ingredient, and salad dressing used in the Bahamas and Key West, Florida.^[1][2] Old Sour sauce originated in the Bahamas, and is most often prepared using Key lime juice, salt, and bird peppers. ^[1][2] Historically, in both Key West and the Caribbean, it was also prepared using sour oranges.^[3] The sauce may have been developed to preserve both lime and orange juice for use out of season or off-shore.^[4]

Old Sour is most popularly made from an aged (fermented) mixture of Key lime juice, bird peppers, and salt.^[5][6] Old Sour has a salty and acidic flavor.^[5] It is notably prepared using a glass or non-metal bowl so as to prevent the citrus flavor from taking on a "metallic" taste.^[7] Hot sauce is sometimes used to add additional flavor.^[8][9]

In traditional Key West cooking, Old Sour is used for a variety of dishes including seafood, fried foods, and Key lime pie.^[4][10]

See also

• Switcha
• List of sauces
• List of condiments