Home ยทย Recipes ยทย Drinks ยทย Mocktails Calamansi Juice (Filipino Lemonade) Author: Maryanne CabreraPublished: Jul 10, 2014Updated: Jan 19, 2024 View Recipe26 ReviewsThis post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy. Calamansi juice is the Filipino version of lemonade and limeade. It is super refreshing and best served ice cold. My dad was an avid gardener. My childhood home bloomed with a variety of fruit trees including: Fuji apples, persimmons, avocados, and pomelos. But one tree that gave fruit all year long- the calamansi tree, better known in America as calamondin. What is Calamansi Fruit? Calamansi (also spelled kalamansi) is used extensively in Filipino cooking It is squeezed on pancit noodles, used a marinade for meats, and used to make desserts. It also has multiple purposes outside of the kitchen as well. Some people use it as a whitener for dark spots on knees and elbows. It’s also as an alternative to bleach for lightening hair. Calamansi is a citrus fruit similar to lemon and limes. It is often called calamondin in America. The calamansi starts off as a green fruit and slowly turns yellow-orange as it matures on the tree. You can use it at either stage. Regardless of the skin color, the juice will be very tart. How to make Filipino Lemonade Calamansi juice is excellent with honey and sugar. It is pretty similar to lemonade and just as refreshing. It tastes like a lemonade-limeade hybrid, but more tropical and aromatic. My parents would make me calamansi honey ginger tea whenever I had a sore throat as a kid. And for as long as I can remember, I’ve been making calamansi juice ever summer. Calamansi Juice (Filipino Lemonade) 4.75 from 4 votes Calamansi Juice is the Filipino version of lemonade and limeade. It is super refreshing and best served ice cold.Yield: about 1 quart Prep Time: 10 minutes minutesTotal Time: 10 minutes minutes Servings: 6 Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe Ingredients▢ 1 cup fresh squeezed calamansi juice, discard seeds and skin▢ 2 cups water▢ ยพ -1 cup simple syrup, depending on desired sweetness▢ ice, to serveSimple Syrup:▢ 1 cup water▢ 1 cup granulated sugar Instructions In a pitcher, combine calamansi juice, water, and 3/4 cup simple syrup. Stir to combine. Store in fridge until chilled.Stir before serving. Serve with ice. Add more water or simple syrup to your liking.Simple Syrup:In a sauce pot, bring water and sugar to a boil until sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature. Store excess syrup in the fridge and use within 2 weeks. NotesSince I like to serve calamansi juice with a lot of ice, I keep my recipe a little on the tart/sour side. ย As the ice melts, the calamansi juice won’t get watered down.ย NutritionCalories: 122kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.02g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.002g | Sodium: 29mg | Potassium: 68mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 2IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 2mg Author: Maryanne Cabrera Course: DrinksCuisine: Filipino Did you make this recipe?Show us on Instagram! Tag @littleepicurean and hashtag #littleepicurean.
Ace (@toastedsprinkle) says: July 27, 2014 Oh this looks yummy! Are the rinds anything like kumquats? Are they edible too? I just discovered kumquats on my latest trip to California and I’m constantly hunting for them. I think they need something to mellow out their sour flavor though and I haven’t quite figured it out yet. Super jealous of that garden, it sounds amazing! Reply
Maryanne Cabrera says: July 28, 2014 Yes, the rinds are similar in thickness to kumquats. However, you can’t eat the rinds of calamansi. Candied kumquats are really tasty! Yes, I’m jealous of my dad’s garden, too. One day my thumb will turn green :)
Denise M says: January 1, 2015 We recently moved into a home with two of these trees in the backyard. The previous owner said his wife would always make the best citrus-ade, but he couldn’t remember the name of the trees. With a little research I came across your recipe. I immediately went out and harvested enough for a double batch. It is simply amazing!!! And to think for the last six months I’ve been letting the bugs/birds have all they want!! Never again will they go to waste! Reply
john knight says: February 1, 2015 Calamansi skins can be eaten. Just back from a trip to Singapore, the Calamansi skin was added with green chili as a condiment in our deep fried squid/calamari. When we inquired if the green citrus with the green chili was Kumquat the chef brought us a fruit and explained it was called Calamans. we then discovered it in another dish at Raffles the next day. Reply
Naadia says: June 22, 2015 The house I lived in previously had a tree and I used to enjoy a glass (or more) of this juice daily. Since we’ve moved that hasn’t been the case, but thankfully the fruits are readily available at markets! Absolutely refreshing juice! I never knew what they were called, until I read your post! I used to remember them as “little oranges”!! Reply
Anna says: October 29, 2015 You have wonderful information regarding Calamansi..It’s nice to read them. Thanks for sharing.. Reply
Cameron says: November 22, 2015 This recipe is a bit old but I just wanted to say that you CAN eat the rinds. I’m going to be making candied calamansi rinds pretty soon, actually. You can even use the leftover simple syrup for this recipe to make the candied rinds. Reply
Brett says: June 6, 2016 Hey there, So I think I’m going to try to integrate this with a bubbly and try to make a wine spritzer out of it. Have you done this? I feel like a dry prosecco or even a Vinho Verde / Txakolina would work well with this. Any thoughts or suggestions? Thank You! Reply
Maryanne Cabrera says: June 7, 2016 Hi Brett! That sounds like a terrific idea! I think the calamansi juice would work well with a sparkling wine.
Tim Perry says: August 19, 2016 Hey Maryanne, I did a search for calamansi and your blog came up. I have heard that this fruit has a lot of healing properties. I live in Los Angeles (West Hollywood) and wondered it you knew where in this area can you buy this fruit. Any information would be very helpful. Thank you! Tim Perry Reply
Maryanne Cabrera says: August 21, 2016 Depending on the season, you may be able to find the fresh fruits at Asian supermarkets or speciality Filipino markets. You can also purchase calamansi fruit trees are numerous nurseries around LA/OC area.
Linda Weidkamp says: January 22, 2018 Yes. I love calamansi lemonade! I used to drink it often when I was very young and living in the Philippines. Now my friend who has relatives in California brings them back to Utah and shares them with me. I wish it were more readily available everywhere; however, since it only grows in tropical-like places, I am fortunate to have them from her whenever she returns from CA. Definitely a great drink for colds or sore throats as well. Reply
Rob says: July 11, 2019 I squeeze mine into soda water using my sodas stream – best drink – no sugar – not needed for a refreshing drink Reply
RamA says: September 25, 2019 Thank you for your very informative blog. I’d like to know if the yellow lemons that grow abroad ( USA, Australia, etc ) are planted the same way ( in terms of technique ) as our native calamansi. Would you know? Reply
Maryanne Cabrera says: September 26, 2019 I have grown my own calamansi trees from seed. It is planted the same way you would care for other citruses.
vALI says: April 29, 2020 Do you have a recipe for Calamansi Vinegar (or vinegar infused with it). I put in a tree this year and it has been bearing fruit. Calamansi vinegar is available to purchase online but cost $50 a bottle – ouch! So I am looking to make my own. Thanks. Reply
Maryanne Cabrera says: April 29, 2020 Hi! Unfortunately, I don’t have a recipe for that. I’ve never heard of calamansi vinegar!
Eli Lashley says: June 23, 2021 my husband and I had a Nursery in Alaska and we grew and sold Calamondin trees, as houseplants and to grow in greenhouses. the fruit, chopped with peeles but seeds removed makes the best marmalade. I used an orange marmalade recipe. Reply
Maryanne Cabrera says: June 28, 2021 That’s awesome! I didn’t know it could grow as houseplants! Yes, calamondin makes wonderful marmalade. I wish I had some right now!
Bonnie Morales says: February 8, 2022 I live in Yucca Valley, CA and would like to know where I could purchase the fruit Reply
Maryanne Cabrera says: February 17, 2022 Filipino supermarkets or large Asian supermarkets. You can also try local nurseries that specialize in fruit trees.
Ate June says: February 20, 2024 So refreshing. I wish we had calamansi tree. Have you tried making it with lemon and lime mixture? Reply
Maryanne Cabrera says: February 23, 2024 No, I haven’t. The flavor of calamansi is hard to mimic with lemon and lime.
Joy Cordero says: July 2, 2024 Thank you for your recipe for kalamansi juice. I used it a lot. I just added more water though like 2 more cups to dilute more of the juice and the sugar. And lots of ice! Reply