Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - If you are going to be living in Puerto Vallarta, you'll soon learn that there's nothing like a cold drink to keep you cool on a hot day. One of Mexico's favorite thirst quenchers is called limonada, or limeade.

Raymundo, a bartender at Daiquiri Dick's Restaurant on Los Muertos Beach, shows us how to mix one up.

He starts with a big glass, adds a large scoop of ice, fresh squeezed lime juice, a dash of simple syrup, and then tops it off with either natural water or mineral water, depending on your preference. He gives this a good stir before adding a slice of lime and a straw.

The next time you are in Puerto Vallarta and need to cool off quickly, be sure to try a refreshing limonada. Or poke a Mexican lime quarter into the long neck of a cerveza for an alcoholic, but equally refreshing, alternative.

Mexican limes are also the perfect warm-weather seasoning. Small and full of seeds, with a strong aroma and it is pretty tart and bitter, Mexican limes are typically used with other foods and not eaten alone. In fact, limes have always been a common ingredient in everyday Mexican cooking, where a squirt of the small citrus brightens the taste of everything from tacos to tequila to guacamole. They show up on almost every plate, both as garnish and squeezable condiment.

Because Mexico is the world's largest producer and exporter of the fruit, limes are sometimes called 'Mexico's Green Gold.' They are also distributed throughout the world to be used as a flavoring for sorbet, beverages, cocktails, pickles, jams, jellies, and a variety of snacks and candies.

When in Puerto Vallarta pick up a few limes and start squeezing. They are available throughout the year, but they are at their peak of freshness in the warmer months, from May through October.

Limes also have a variety of health benefits, including improved digestion, relief from constipation, eye care, and treatment of scurvy, peptic ulcers, respiratory disorders, gout, gum issues, urinary tract disorders, etc. Get your squeeze on today.