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Calamansi (Citrofortunella microcarpa) is native to the Philippines Photo: Michelle C. Lyles
Calamansi, calamondin, Philippine lime – this versatile citrus fruit is the secret ingredient to many mouthwatering Filipino delicacies such as pancit palabok, Leyte kinilaw, beefsteak Tagalog, and arroz caldo. One of the most basic Filipino dipping sauces is made with soy sauce and calamansi juice, called toyomansi; and a simple, yet flavorful marinade is a blend of soy sauce, calamansi juice, vinegar, pepper, and garlic.
While many growers see the calamansi as tiny decorative oranges and mostly ornamental, they are finding that the trees are problem free and easy to cultivate both indoors and out. They thrive inside the house in containers, as well as planted in the ground in tropical areas and zones with only occasional mild frosts. Calamansi is the result of a rare natural cross between two closely related genera, the Citrus and the Fortunella, and carries the characteristics of both the parents. The Fortunella parent, Kumquat, lends a dense shrubby habitat, small leaves and a hardy constitution, whereas the Citrus reticulata, Mandarin Orange, lends thorns, tasty fruit and ease of peeling. So the Calamansi has small, easy to peel fruit with the sour acid flavor.
In Central Florida, calamansi trees yield abundant fruit throughout the year. When the trees are covered in blossoms, they emit an intoxicatingly sweet beautiful fragrance that carries with the breeze. Many of my neighbors and co-workers have been introduced with baskets of this sour, thin skinned citrus, learning how to make a refreshing drink that tastes much like lemonade: squeeze and strain the juice of several calamansi, add cold water, and sugar or honey to taste. It’s a superb source of vitamin C and has a light, yet unique flavor equivalent to freshly made lemonade with a tangerine essence. The fruits can be used just like you would limes, key limes, or lemons. So even if you don’t know how to cook any Filipino dishes, you can use to marinade and baste grilled chicken, pork, and seafood, or squeeze into your iced tea, cola, or rum.
The calamansi fruit also has several medicinal uses. It can be a good treatment to itchy scalp, to heal insect bites, remove freckles, clear up acne and pimples, and to deodorize underarms. It is also a popular home remedy for cough. In addition to these, homemakers are awed by its power to remove heavy stains on fabrics, and as a subsitute for any of the ways a lemon can clean the home.
Here are some calamansi fruits, with orange skin, from my yard in Florida.
Comments
hi,how can i grow calamani and where can i get it?i'm from North Fl
calamansi
Hi Kris, calamansi trees grow pretty well in the ground in the Jacksonville area. Choose a sunny area of your yard and preferably a southern exposure for maximum sunlight, especially in the winter months. I have seen calamansi trees in Lowe's and Home Depot, and even the Wal-Mart garden centers, but if you can let me know which area of North Florida you are in I can find out some specialized nurseries that carry the trees. Usually they are in smaller containers as a small shrub, and once they are in the ground will flourish into a taller size plant. My neighbor keeps their tree in a pot, and is about three feet tall. Mine are in the ground and are easily twelve feet tall and produce fruit all year long here in Central Florida.
what are the good things that calamansi can do to our skin?does it whitens our skin?
Hello. What's the storage life of calamansi if you squeeze the juice out and place in a glass jar? Can it be placed in the freezer?
Can I grow calamansi in Arizona?
hi, im aubrey.. so can ask what is the medicinal use of the calamansi leaf?
hi, im aubrey.. so can I ask what is the medicinal use of the calamansi leaf?
will calamansi grow outdoors in Tucson AZ area?
I have been searching for calamansi..either the plant or the fruit itself. But here at Inverness Fl...I only found frozen calamansi juice. Do you have any referrals as to where I can get calamansi? Thanks.
.. what contains the calamansi peelings??
How about the facts of Calamansi peels?
Thank you all for reading my article on calamansi!
@lyka There are several products on the market using calamansi to whiten the skin, though I have never used it for this so I can't tell you from personal experience.
@Nell I've kept calamansi juice in a glass pitcher in my refrigerator for a week... usually it doesn't stay around that long since it is such a refreshing drink and everyone in my family loves it. We have frozen the juice in freezer friendly plastic containers or bags.
@Connie and @Maryann Arizona weather should support growing calamansi as long as it gets some rainfall or water.
@Aubrey I do not know any medicianl purposes of the calamansi leaf.
@Lorna We are in the middle of getting a calamansi crop together for farmers markets and seedling sale. I will get the link up on my site when this happens!
@Angelique You can get a great candied calamansi peel recipe here at Burnt Lumpia's blog
Hi Michelle,
I've searched for a source as to where to purchase the seedlings of the Kalamansi plant/tree. Can you please direct me to the sellers/farmers where I can purchase some seedlings.
Thank you.
Carlee
Hi Carlee, I apologize for the delay. There is no one here in Central Florida that grow kalamansi, although there are some independent gardeners who sell their small trees at farmers markets. Looks like this is an opportunity that I may have to pursue soon. I'll keep everyone updated on when I can locate or when I get this business started!
Sincerely,
Michelle
hi can i grow kalamansi from seeds straight from the fruit or do i have to leave them dry for a few days
Michelle, I tried contacting you via your LinkedIn account. While I could certainly grow my own calamansi tree if I had some of the seeds, that won't help me short-term. I need to buy about 80 fresh calamansi fruit. And I'm not talking about the calamansi oranges that are commonly grown in Florida. I'm talking about the calamansi lemons, which are commonly found in the Philippines. I've had many of them during my visits to the Philippines. But I'm not an impoter and wouldn't know how to go about importing them to the U.S., so I need to buy some here. Can you assist me?
drinking pure calamansi juice (undiluted). Is is good or bad? I have read two very contrasting articles about this. According to my research in google, it makes our stomach very acidic and you'll end up in a hospital.
According to Bo Sanchez, it is not because of its alkalinity which is very good for our body especially to our kidneys. Please enlighten me on this.
Thanks.
http://www.listia.com/auction/2334966-5-calamansi-seeds-calamondin-chinese
here is the link where you can find seeds.
Good day Madame.
I a college student from the Philippines and I am conducting a thesis with calamansi as my subject.
I will be evaluating the effect of maturation on the chemical content of the fruit.
May I just ask, how long does it take for the fruit to become orange?
Your response is highly appreciated.
My e-mail address is: arjanus_buenas@yahoo.com
Thanks.
I bought my calamansi from a person that was selling it from a Pho88 Restaurant entrance door in Orlando FL. Colonial and Mills Avenue.
Hi Somebody told me that the juice of calamansi is good to eliminate choleterol. It is taken early in the morning. Just squeeze the juice of 5 calamansi fruit and take it dirrectly hen followed by water. Is it true?
Hi I want to correct my comment. It is to eliminate cholesterol that should be taken directly then followed by water. Is it true? I have'nt read any article about it.
Hi I want to correct my comment. It is to eliminate cholesterol that should be taken directly then followed by water. Is it true? I have'nt read any article about it.
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