As the countdown to New Year's Eve begins, a culinary revelation from a South London restaurant is causing a stir online. A simple but transformative technique for slicing limes, shared by a chef, promises to upgrade your cocktails and cuisine by ensuring a better, more controlled flow of juice.
The 'Secret' Technique from a Peckham Kitchen
Sam Tarneberg, head chef at the Peckham eatery Taquiza, recently demonstrated the method in a TikTok video that has since captivated viewers. He began by showing the common, yet apparently flawed, approach most people use.
"Most people start this way," Tarneberg explained, positioning his knife vertically over the lime with the stalk ends at the top and bottom. "We don't do that." Instead, he rotated the citrus fruit horizontally and sliced it in half through its equator. He then proceeded to cut those halves into slim wedges, ensuring the flat, fleshy side faced upwards.
The chef highlighted two key benefits of this horizontal cut. Firstly, it avoids the bitter white pith that runs along the traditional wedge. Secondly, and most crucially for messy cocktail-making, it directs the juice. "When you go to squeeze it, it doesn't go everywhere," Tarneberg said. "It just goes where you want it to go."
Why This Method Makes a Tangible Difference
The logic behind the hack is rooted in the fruit's anatomy. Cutting the lime horizontally severs the internal membranes differently, effectively opening more juice vesicles. This means you get more liquid from the same fruit with less effort. For bars and restaurants, this efficiency translates to cost savings and consistent flavour.
The video's caption drove the point home: "A clean horizontal cut keeps the pith out of the way so the juice runs smooth, straight over your tacos or whatever you're drenching in citrus." This makes the technique invaluable not just for New Year's Eve cocktails like Margaritas and Mojitos, but also for enhancing Mexican dishes.
Social Media Reaction and Industry Insights
The response on TikTok was one of widespread surprise and appreciation. One viewer commented, "Raise your hand if you've been cutting limes wrong," accompanied by a raised hand emoji. Another confessed their old method: "I always chop the wrong way and then stab it repeatedly to make the juice come out easier. A drop always seems to find my eyeball though."
Interestingly, the clip also sparked conversation about standard industry practice. One user shared their experience working in a taco shop, noting they were written up for using this very technique despite its effectiveness. "Kept doing it anyway because more juice and slices come out," they wrote, adding that customers stopped complaining about 'dry' limes.
Another viewer provided context for the traditional vertical cut, explaining, "Usually bars/restaurants will cut it the other way for garnishing drinks." This suggests the horizontal method is superior for juicing, while the vertical may still hold for aesthetic garnish placement.
With New Year's Eve fast approaching on December 31st, this timely tip from Taquiza offers a simple way to elevate home celebrations. Whether you're mixing drinks for a party or preparing a festive feast, mastering this cut could be the secret to a smoother, more flavourful start to 2026.
