Best Southeast Asian Citrus Fruit Types
Calamansi (lat. Citrus × microcarpa) is a small citrus fruit hybrid native to the Philippines and widely used across Southeast Asia.
The fruit is spherical, typically about 20 to 25 millimeters in diameter, and has a green to golden yellow color when ripe. Despite its small size, calamansi packs a flavorful punch and is highly aromatic. The taste of calamansi is a unique blend of sweet and sour, similar to a cross between a lime and a mandarin orange, making it versatile in both culinary and beverage applications.
Makrut lime is an evergreen shrub that’s native to Southeast Asia. The fruits are green when unripe, turning yellow when ripe. The rind is warty, rough, and thick, while the pulp is very acidic and juicy with a few whitish seeds. The sour juice is often used in desserts, ice cream, beverages, and some seafood dishes.
Makrut lime leaves are very aromatic and used as a spice that adds flavor to savory and spicy stir-fries, curries, and tom yum soup. The rind contains aromatic oil which is used to flavor rum and liqueurs.
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