For some twenty plus years, I’ve known these little citrus fruits as calamansi.  They are a popular fruit throughout Southeast Asia–especially in the Philippines.  Today I learned that these little fruits are better known as the calamondin orange!

My parents have a giant tree in their backyard, and it bears fruits all year long.  The fruit juice is exellent with honey and sugar.  Its pretty similar to lemonade and just as refreshing.  My mom would make me calamansi tea when I’d have a sore throat.  Its used extensively in Filipino cooking– its squeezed on pancit noodles, as marinade for meats, and candided as garnishes for desserts.  It also has multiple purposes outside of the kitchen as well.  I’ve heard people use it as a whitener for dark knees and elbows and an alternative to bleach for lightening hair.  

The calamondin is very similar to lemons and limes.  I’m not the biggest fan of citrus desserts, especially lemon curd but I decided to try swap in calamondin and give it a try.