Two whole limes, boiled for 2 minutes, then chopped up and seeded. Don't keep the water.

I've tied the spices in a piece of cheesecloth. I think in this recipe I'd not leave them for people to avoid, just because I'd want to take them out when the cooking is done, rather than letting them stay and continue intensifying, which would throw the balance of flavors off a bit. If there's no cheesecloth to be had, I think I'd put in some ground cloves instead, and call it a night.