How do I make lemon/lime twists?

[crankin]

I am wondering how bartenders make those really good looking lemon/lime twists that go on drinks (see image below)? I have a citrus zesting tool but I don't understand how they get it to be so tight and springy. Does anyone know the answer?

Thanks

 

[Andy M.]

Does your tool look like this?

Start the curl where the stem was and use the tool to go around the lime in a tight spiral.

Actually, you can do it anywhere on the lime if you carve out the peel in a tight spiral.

 

[kitchenelf]

What you want is a channel knife. The above knife is a zester AND a channel knife. The "channel" is the place in the middle of the above knife. Make a cut using that part long enough to tie or long enough to twist and curl.

 

[crankin]

Yes I do have a tool like that. I am able to cut a strip of the lime/lemon but I'm not sure how to get it to be so tightly wound together. Is it a matter of how you cut the strip off or do you do something to it once it's cut?

 

[Andy M.]

...Is it a matter of how you cut the strip off or do you do something to it once it's cut?

It's how you cut it. Cut in a spiral, not a straight line. A tight spiral will give you a tight curl. A wide spiral will give you a bigger looser curl.