The Lowly Calamansi

I love calamansi! This unpretentious tiny citrus fruit is packed with nutrients and super rich in vitamin C. It is indigenous to the country, cultivated by farmers and housewives alike, and sold very cheap in the market. And yes, often regarded as common and unimportant. For me, calamansi is a special fruit. It has so many uses. It makes a great thirst-quenching drink when freshly squeezed in water, mixed with honey and lots of ice. It also adds zest to an otherwise ordinary dish. It goes well with soy sauce as dip for fried fish, it makes any vegetable or seaweed salad extra tangy and it is a perfect ingredient for beef or pork marinades. Not to forget, it gives some nice flavor to your ordinary iced tea and even to hot green tea. And yes, you can eat the fruit when ripe, just suck the fruit and enjoy its sweet and sour taste.

Almost ripe, the pulp is already turning into a beautiful orange

 

 A glass of water with one or two calamansi taken first thing in the morning is good for cleansing the body.  Its effect is alkalizing and it's not acidic at all. According to some literature, drinking calamansi water can also contribute to weight loss as it flushes out body toxins. I drink this concoction every morning not to lose weight but primarily to cleanse my system and I have been doing this for a long time now.

But, not only is the lowly calamansi good to eat or to drink, it is also very good for the skin when applied topically. It is a powerful skin lightening agent because of its acid content. It is also a cheap and effective way to treat pimples, lighten the face, neck, underarms, knees and groins. When bathing, a calamansi water makes your skin smooth and your hair shiny when used as your final rinse. And my favorite of all, it’s perfect to mix with brown sugar and honey as body scrub.

 

Yep, I have calamansi tree in my backyard and it is growing beautifully,
 bearing fruits enough for the family :)

 
I am very fond of using natural products, calamansi is as natural as you can get, and it's not only effective and comes with many health benefits, it's very cheap too, and it is available anywhere, anytime.