What Does Calamansi Taste Like?
Calamansi is a small green fruit of the compact and beautiful Calamansi tree. It looks like a lime before it ripens. It’s popular in many Asian countries, especially in the Philippines, where it’s used in cooking, drinks, and even for medicinal purposes. If you’ve never tried this fruit before, you might be wondering what Calamansi tastes like. In this article, we will dig deeper into the flavors of Calamansi and help you understand why so many people love this fruit. Let's start.
What Is Calamansi?
Calamansi Tree (Citrus microcarpa) is a relatively small, bushy tree that grows tasty citrus fruits. It’s known as Calamondin, Philippine Lime, Calamondin Orange Tree, Calamansi Lime, or Golden Lime. This edible plant thrives in warm tropical climates. How would you describe Calamansi? It’s a hybrid of a Kumquat and a Mandarin Orange, and looks like a combination of a small orange and a round lemon. This gorgeous plant originates from Southeast Asia, especially the Philippines.
Calamansi trees grow best in hardiness zones 9 to 11, where it’s sunny and warm throughout the year. When mature, they produce small, round fruits with a unique taste and a strong, flowery scent. In the Philippines, the Calamansi symbolizes freshness and joy, often used in celebrations, cooking, and even as a natural cleaner.
Calamansi Benefits
Growing this beautiful tree at home has many advantages, while the fruits of Calamondin also have strong health benefits.
See below the benefits of Calamansi:
- Adds a tropical vibe to any space
- Produces delicious fruits with health benefits
- Makes a thoughtful gift for other plant enthusiasts
- Calamondin juice may reduce bad cholesterol and contain antioxidants
- The Calamansi Tree is a natural air purifier
Calamansi Taste: Is Calamansi Sour or Sweet?
Does Calamondin taste good? Yes! Calamansi is primarily sour (when unripe, similar to a lemon) and gradually presents the subtle sweetness of an orange by the end of its harvesting season, typically between July and September.
What Does Calamansi Fruit Taste Like?
Calamansi fruit tastes like a citrus fruit that’s sweet and slightly sour. Cut it open, and its fresh, flowery scent will spread into the air around you, like tangerines. So, what is Calamansi similar to? This Philippine lemon resembles a yellow round lemon and an orange. When unripe, it looks more like a lime. It is sweeter and less tangy than a lemon but more zesty than an orange. You can use it in both sweet and savory dishes, as a marinade for barbecue, a sour agent in soups, or add a flash of acidity to dipping sauces. Calamansi makes a refreshing juice, or you can blend it with other citrus fruits for a delicious alcohol-free cocktail.
Fun Fact: A Calamansi is a result of crossing a Mandarin Orange (Citrus Reticulata) with a Kumquat (Fortunella Margarita).
How to Tell If a Calamondin Is Ripe?
A Calamansi, or Calamondin, is considered ripe when its skin is deep orange and firm to the touch. Plus, it should come off easily from the Calamondin tree branch with a gentle twist. If the color is pale yellow or light green, the Calamansi fruit needs to ripen a bit more. Conversely, soft-to-the-touch fruit that is a darker orange color will taste overly ripe, with its tangy flavour lost.
Calamansi Tree Care: How Do You Care for a Calamondin Orange Tree?
How do you take care of a Calamansi tree? It's fairly easy to care for a Calamansi tree; you need to provide it with the right growing conditions, including ample sunlight, slightly acidic soil, consistent moisture, and protection from frost. Apply fertilizer in the middle of the growing season to increase fruit yield and quality. Let's dive deeper into what Calamansi requires to flourish.
Does Calamansi Like Direct Sunlight?
A Calamansi tree likes direct sunlight, requiring at least 6-8 hours of it daily. While the plant can tolerate slightly shady conditions, this can harm its fruit-bearing capabilities and long-term growth. If you live in a region where direct sunlight is scarce or full sun exposure isn't possible indoors, consider supplementing your Calamansi tree with artificial lighting to meet its light needs.
How Often Do You Water Calamansi Plants?
A Calamansi plant doesn't need to be watered frequently like some other indoor plants. In most cases, watering about once a week or when the top 1-2” of the soil appears to dry out completely is enough. You may also want to consider the humidity, size of the plant, and season to tailor your watering schedule for best results.
Feeding: How Do You Encourage Calamansi to Bear Fruit?
You can encourage your Calamansi to bear more fruit by feeding it during the growing season. Apply a citrus, liquid fertilizer with a balanced N-P-K ratio (5-10-5) to promote fruit production. Note that Calamansi trees grown in pots require more frequent fertilizing than plants grown outdoors in the garden.
Also, ensure your Calamondin Orange receives ample sunlight, ideally 6-8 hours per day. Consider also fruit thinning, a technique that encourages better quality and bigger fruits.
Common Problems: Why Is My Calamansi Not Flowering?
Your Calamansi may not be flowering due to incorrect watering, nutrient deficiency, insufficient sunlight, soggy soil, and low humidity. If your Calamansi tree isn’t mature enough, this could be another reason behind it not flowering.
Why Are My Calamansi Leaves Turning Yellow?
If you find your Calamansi’s dark leaves turning yellow, it may be due to improper sunlight, over- or underwatering, a lack of essential nutrients in the soil, or pest infestations. Too extreme temperature fluctuations may also cause yellowing in your Philippine Calamansi tree.
Calamansi (Calamondin Plant): FAQs
Q: How long does it take for a Calamansi tree to fruit?
A: A Calamansi tree usually starts producing fruits after about 2-3 years when grown from a seed or cutting. However, with proper Calamansi tree care, it may bear small, tangy Calamansi limes even sooner. Mature trees yield delicious fruit, with peak harvests from November to June.
Q: Can you eat the skin of Calamondin?
A: Yes, you can eat the Calamondin skin! The Calamondin fruit has a thin, sweet peel that balances its sour, tangy taste. Unlike other thicker-skinned citrus, the Calamondin orange skin is soft and edible, perfect for zest, marmalades, or eating whole as an evening snack. Just wash the Calamansi fruit with clean water to enjoy its sweet-sour flavor safely.
Q: Can you grow Calamondin in pots?
A: Absolutely! A Calamondin tree can be grown in pots, since it typically stays small throughout its lifespan. Layer the pot with light, well-draining soil and place it in full sun, and soon enough, you’ll enjoy tasty Calamansi fruit.
Q: Are Calamansi and Kumquat the same?
A: No, Calamansi and Kumquat are different. Calamansi, also called Calamondin, is a hybrid of Kumquat and Mandarin, and has a slightly sourer taste. Kumquats are larger, with sweeter flesh. Calamansi limes have tangy juice and thin, edible skin that you may or may not eat, while Kumquats are usually eaten whole and are less juicy. Both are citrus but differ in flavor and size.
Q: What do Filipinos use Calamansi for?
A: Filipinos use Calamansi in many ways, thanks to the various Calamansi benefits. Its fresh juice is widely used in cold drinks, marinades, dips, and sauces. Also, Calamansi is a staple in many Filipino dishes. Popular Calamansi recipes, such as Pancit (Filipino noodles), Lugaw (rice porridge), and Sisig (pork dish), include the fruit as a seasoning or flavoring agent. The Calamansi lime tree also adds beauty as an ornamental plant.
Q: Is a Calamondin Orange sweet?
A: No, a Calamondin Othat range isn't sweet. It tastes slightly tart or sour. Unlike the traditional oranges, you can eat their skin raw or grind it over salads, soups, desserts, or sauces for a tangy taste.
Conclusion
Calamansi has a bold, sharp taste with unique and aromatic sweet notes. It may appear sweet at first, but then it leaves a tangy aftertaste. Some say it’s sweeter than a lime but more sour than an orange. It also has a light, floral smell that makes it stand out. Great in marinades, teas, and even desserts, Calamansi adds a fresh twist to beverages and dishes you won’t forget. You can pair and grow your Calamansi with other beautiful tropical plants to create a lush indoor garden.