Originating in the Persian Gulf[4][5] – hence the Iranian name limoo amani and the Iraqi name noomi basra ("lemon from Basra") – dried limes are popular in cookery across the Middle East.

[7] Across the Middle East, they are used with fish, whereas in Iraq, they are added to almost all dishes and forms of stuffing.

Powdered dried lime is also used as an ingredient in Middle Eastern-style baharat (a spice mixture).

It is a traditional ingredient in the cuisines of Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and other countries of the Persian Gulf.

Dried lime tea is a type of herbal tea made from dried limes and is a popular beverage in Iraq where it is used to aid indigestion, diarrhea, and nausea.