You’ve heard about refreshing lemon juice, but what about calamansi juice?

While calamansi is smaller than other citrus fruits, studies have revealed that this tiny superfood is also packed with many vitamins and minerals. Consuming calamansi can help boost your immune system and even promote weight loss!

Also called calamondin or Philippine lime, Calamansi (Citrus × microcarpa) is a hybrid between the kumquat and the mandarin orange. This small fruit is widely cultivated in Southeast Asia, especially in the Philippines.

Calamansi can be used to make a sweet and tangy juice, it can also be used as an alternative to other citrus fruits for various recipes! This citrus hybrid is rich in vitamin C and antioxidants like limonene. Calamansi also contains calcium, potassium and vitamin A.

7 Reasons to drink calamansi juice

Calamansi juice is a refreshing, citrusy beverage and you should consider drinking it if you want to boost your immune health and promote weight loss naturally!

Improves your immune health

Calamansi is a natural source of vitamin C, an essential mineral that has a role in your immune health.

The vitamin C in calamansi juice can help stimulate the production of white blood cells and prevent cell damage from free radicals because the superfruit has antioxidant and antibacterial properties.

Lacking vitamin C can make you more prone to getting sick. Getting enough vitamin C daily is crucial for your overall well-being because the body is unable to produce or store this particular nutrient.

Boosts collagen production

Vitamin C is needed in collagen production and collagen is a compound needed to create every tissue in your body.

Consuming calamansi juice helps boost your intake of vitamin C or ascorbic acid that helps your body grow properly. Additionally, vitamin C helps repair damage from injury, illness, or surgery.

Helps lower acidity

The fruit has high levels of citric acid, but calamansi juice can be consumed to help soothe stomach pain.

According to one study, tannins from calamansi rind have anti-inflammatory properties that may help lower levels of inflammation when consumed in moderation. The results also suggest that drinking calamansi juice can help reduce your risk of developing ulcers and prevent acid reflux.

Can be used to manage cholesterol levels

According to research and anecdotal evidence, calamansi juice can help lower your cholesterol levels. This is important for weight loss and preventing metabolic syndrome.

Managing cholesterol levels and maintaining a healthy weight is also key to reducing your risk of atherosclerosis, heart attack and stroke.

Can be used to manage diabetes

Another study has also revealed that calamansi juice can help moderate blood sugar levels because it contains an isoflavone called naringenin. The study results showed that consuming calamansi juice can help regulate the release of glucose and insulin into the bloodstream, which is good news for anyone with diabetes or people at risk of developing the condition.

It promotes weight loss

Worried about your weight gain? Exercising regularly, following a balanced diet and drinking calamansi juice can help you lose weight!

Calamansi juice can help boost your metabolism and eliminate many toxins in the body that may contribute to fat storage. As the juice increased metabolic speed, it also helps improve passive fat-burning throughout the day.

Calamansi juice also detoxifies your body to help all of your organs run more smoothly and function properly, which is important for calorie burning.

It can boost your respiratory health

Calamansi juice is used as a traditional remedy because it is believed that its strong citric acid level can help cut through “phlegm and mucus, where infections often live and propagate.” The citric acid in the juice can also help relieve inflammation in the throat and respiratory tract.

Delicious calamansi recipes

You can use calamansi to make a refreshing juice, savory fish fillet and tangy calamansi bars!

Calamansi juice

Purchase calamansi at specialty grocery stores or import stores.

Ingredients for 2 servings:

• 12-14 calamansi fruits
• 2 cups of water
• 3/4 cup of honey or brown sugar

Preparation:

1. Wash the calamansi thoroughly.
2. Slice the calamansi in half and use a lemon squeezer to extract the juice. You can also slice off the top of the limes, but make sure not to cut into the seeds. Use your hands to squeeze out as much juice as possible from the calamansi into a strainer.
3. Add the sugar and water to the fresh calamansi juice and stir thoroughly.
   Taste the juice and add more honey or water if it’s too sour.
4. Refrigerate the juice and serve chilled!

To reap the health benefits of calamansi juice, you can also drink it without any sweeteners or only a small amount of honey.

Calamansi fish fillet

Did you know that you can also use calamansi for savory dishes?

This recipe makes a tasty calamansi fish fillet that’s easy to make and full of flavor! While cream dory is rather bland, adding herbs and calamansi juice makes the dish tangy and adds bright flavors.

Ingredients for 4 servings:

• 400 grams of cream dory fillets, thawed
• 1/4 cup of calamansi juice, freshly squeezed
• 2 tablespoons of cilantro, chopped, plus more for garnish
• 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon of fish sauce
• 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil
• 2 cloves garlic, smashed
• Ground black pepper, for seasoning

Preparation:

1. Combine the calamansi juice, fish sauce, cilantro and pepper in a small bowl.
2. Place the fish fillets in a shallow container. Drizzle half of the calamansi mixture over the fish and let it marinate for at least five minutes.
3. Heat the oil and butter in a large pan over medium heat. Saute the garlic until fragrant.
4. Cook the fish fillets for at least five minutes. Flip the fish over and cook for two to three more minutes.
5. Drizzle the remaining calamansi mixture over fish and top with cilantro before serving.

Creamy and zesty calamansi tart

When you’re craving a dessert but you want something healthy and without any preservatives, try making these calamansi tarts! This recipe replaces key lime with calamansi.

Ingredients for 6 servings:

• 1 can (14 ounces) of sweetened condensed milk
• 3 cups of crushed digestive biscuits
• 1 cup of heavy whipping cream (Optional)
• 2/3 cup of calamansi juice
• 1/3 cup of brown white sugar
• 5 tablespoons of butter, at room temperature
• 2 tablespoons of confectioners’ sugar (optional)
• 1 tablespoon of thinly sliced calamansi peel
• 3 egg yolks

Preparation:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F (175 C).
2. Combine the biscuit crumbs, butter and sugar in a bowl and mix well. Press the mixture into the bottom and sides of a tart pan to make the crust, then flatten evenly using a spoon.
3. Bake the crust in the preheated oven until golden or for seven to eight minutes. Once done, remove from the oven but leave the oven on. Set the shell aside and let it cool as you prepare the filling.
4. Use a mixer on high speed to whisk the egg yolks and calamansi peel in a bowl until light and fluffy. Reduce the speed to medium then slowly add the condensed milk until the mixture is smooth and thickened. Stir in the calamansi juice and mix until well combined.
5. Pour the mixture into the tart shell. Bake in the hot oven until set but not browned or for about about 10 minutes.
6. Let the tart cool on a wire rack until it reaches room temperature or for 30 minutes.
7. Refrigerate until cool, about 30 minutes or more.
8. Whip the heavy cream and sugar together in a bowl until stiff peaks form. Slice the tart into six equal pieces and top with the whipped cream before serving.

Drink calamansi juice or make tasty dishes with calamansi to boost your vitamin C intake and improve your immune health.