In cool or cold weather, calamansi limes should be kept dry. They’ll keep for a day or two at room temperature, but they’ll keep for three to four weeks in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator on the low humidity setting (i.e., with the vent all the way open). Look for calamansi fruits turning from pale green to yellow while seeking completely ripe ones.
Overripe fruits are entirely orange, whereas underripe fruits are green. To the touch, the skin should be smooth and firm. Calamansi can be stored at room temperature or in the refrigerator with a small amount of stem attached to keep it fresh. When you’re ready to utilize them, wash them like you would any other citrus fruit.
Calamansi may have recently appeared on a sparkling water label or as a beverage in your local supermarket. Calamansi is also known as a “calamondin” or “Philippine lime” and is not to be confused with “calamari.” For centuries, the citrus fruit has been a staple in Filipino and Southeast Asian cuisine. Lemon, lime, and orange combine to make an extremely tart flavor.
Calamansi, a citrus fruit, is one of the other most popular fruits, and it’s used to make fruit drinks and garnish for other well-known Filipino dishes. Calamansi is a spherical, green, and sour fruit. But don’t be fooled into thinking that its magnitude equals its deliciousness. Even a brief squeeze of the fruit over your favorite food will infuse it with flavor!
What are Calamansi Limes?
Calamansi limes are citrus fruits of the species Citrus x macrocarpa, thought to represent a cross between kumquats (Citrus japonica) and mandarin oranges (Citrus reticulata). Calamansi and calamondin are both sometimes spelled kalamansi and calamondin, respectively. They’re found in the Philippines, Indonesia, and sections of China.
Calamansi limes are little fruits with a diameter of around an inch and a weight of about 30 grams. They range in shape from spherical to slightly flattened. The fruit’s skin is lustrous and thin, and it can be eaten with the remainder of the fruit. The fruit’s skin is sweeter than the fruit itself. Calamansi limes start green, then turn a greenish orange, then totally orange as they ripen.
Calamansi is mainly consumed in its unripe stage because it can take up to a year for them to ripen. Even when the skins are still green, the fruit is orange in color and has seven to nine segments and a quantity of cream-colored seeds. They are available all year, with the winter and early spring being the busiest times.
How to Use Calamansi Limes?
Calamansi limes can be used in various ways due to their bright, acidic flavor. They may be juiced, and the tangy, aromatic juice is used to make a pleasant lemonade in the Philippines. Fresh juice can be blended with other juices or frozen to form ice cubes that can be added to iced tea, lemonade, or other drinks.
The sliced fruits are often served alongside spicy and savory foods, with the juice squeezed over curries, noodle dishes, meats, shellfish, and soups. Indeed, half or quartered calamansi limes are offered on the side with almost every meal in the Philippines (and, to a lesser extent, Malaysia).
The fruits can be pickled or boiled and used to make marmalade. Cakes, tarts, custards, pies, and gelatins are frequently made with fruit and liquid. You can also dry the peel, grind it, and use it as a spice.
What does Calamansi Lime Taste like?
Calamansi limes have a tangy, sour, acidic flavor when unripe, similar to a cross between a lime and a tangerine. The fruit’s peel is thin and edible, even sweeter than the fruit itself. Calamansi limes in their fully mature stage are uncommon to find, both because they don’t hold up to shipping and because they take so long to ripen in the first place.
Calamansi produces a tiny citrus fruit used to flavor meals and beverages. Despite its attractive appearance and perfume, the fruit has a sour flavor. However, the peel is delicious.
Calamansi has a distinct citrus flavor that is difficult to duplicate. Many Filipino cooks, like my mother, may use lemon when they can’t locate it, although it’s not a perfect substitute. The calamari is less tart than a lemon, with a flavor that falls between the sourness of a lime and the sweetness of an orange.
Where to Buy Calamansi Limes?
Calamansi limes aren’t generally available, but if you live near a Filipino supermarket, you might be able to find them there. They may also be available in larger Asian grocery stores, and you can also look for them on the internet.
Calamansi is a citrus fruit endemic to calamondin or Philippine lime in the Philippines. Calamondin is the name given to them in the United States, and they’re exclusively found in Florida. Unripe calamansi is green and sour, while ripe calamansi are yellow and pleasant.
Calamansi is a tree endemic to the Philippines and Southeast Asia, thriving in Mediterranean and subtropical temperatures. The trees are often grown as house plants in colder climates, and trees might take three to five years to bear fruit after being planted. It can be tough to find fresh calamansi fruits unless you go to an Asian store or have a lovely friend with a calamansi tree in their yard. Fortunately, 100% juice and puree may be found in online stores.
What are the Health Benefits of Calamansi?
Calamansi is high in vitamin C, not surprising given its citrus roots. Vitamin C supplementation has been demonstrated to enhance the immune system, aid collagen formation, and decrease blood pressure. Calamansi, like other vitamin C-rich foods, is known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Calamansi juice is commonly consumed in the Philippines as a stomach cure.
1. It Improves your Skin Condition
Calamansi is high in vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, which improves your immune system and increases collagen formation. It refines your skin and keeps it healthy by promoting collagen synthesis. Calamansi also helps to improve your complexion, thanks to its skin bleaching qualities. Calamansi extract is gentle and natural, and therefore it can be used even by those with sensitive skin. Use it directly in affected regions twice a week to observe positive effects.
2. It Lowers Weight
Calamansi juice is a beautiful alternative for weight loss because it is a low-calorie drink. Regularly drinking calamansi juice aids in colon detoxification. Eliminating accumulated fat and regulating bowel movement also purifies your organs and avoids constipation. Before a meal, drink a glass of calamansi juice to help you feel fuller. As a result, you won’t overeat and will be closer to your weight loss goal.
3. It Eliminates Body Odor
Calamansi has various advantages, including the ability to eliminate body odor naturally. If you are concerned about excessive sweating, you will significantly benefit. It has antimicrobial capabilities and destroys bacteria that cause odors. You can soak it in a bathtub with calamansi fruits squeezed in it or apply it straight to the affected area.
5. It Works as a Condiment
When seeking a tasty condiment, calamansi juice is a good choice. It can give your dish a unique flavor and is ideal for marinating pig, poultry, or beef. It can also be combined with soy sauce and used to season roasted and fried meat.
6. It Protects your Teeth
Vitamin C in calamansi juice strengthens your immune system and helps you avoid infections and disorders. With regular ingestion, gingivitis, dental decay, and bleeding gums are all prevented. It’s also good for whitening your teeth.
7. It Protects you from Flu and Colds
Calamansi juice improves your immune system and prevents common colds and other diseases thanks to the presence of vitamin C and several minerals. Calamansi juice can also help you heal faster from bacterial and viral infections if you drink it regularly.
8. It Clears Dandruff
Calamansi might help prevent dandruff by keeping your scalp from becoming dry. Additionally, calamansi juice helps lessen itchiness and irritation from dandruff while increasing hair volume.
Additionally, calamansi juice can be used as a body cleanser to heal coughs, lighten freckles, and keep your breath fresh. When consistently drunk, calamansi juice helps maintain kidney function, protect against diabetes and osteoarthritis, and lower blood cholesterol. It also has liver-tonic properties and makes recovering from a hangover much simpler.
Although calamansi has numerous health benefits, you should avoid consuming too much of it to avoid digestive problems.
Conclusion
Calamansi is a versatile component found in a variety of Southeast Asian cuisines. While it has a similar tartness to other citrus fruits, the calamansi has become a staple in Filipino cuisine. The sweet and refreshing calamansi juice is probably one of the most popular calamansi recipes. It tastes like lemonade, but with a more nuanced flavor, like a blend of lemon and lime.
Calamansi juice can be served hot or cold and is frequently served with honey and sugar (and occasionally ginger). During the summer, though, the latter is always a refreshing pleasure. Another approach is to freeze the juice and then use the ice cubes in tea and water. You may even brew a liqueur out of calamansi, sugar, and vodka if you’re of legal drinking age.
