Variegated Calamondi Or Calamansi Lime And Its Usefulness

There are 2 pots of variegated Calamondin or Calamansi Lime plants in my garden. My hubby bought these 2 plants few years ago when I was still working. On that particular day after work when I was watering my garden plants near the porch area, I noticed 2 new pots of attractive calamansi plants.

He bought them from a nearby nursery. He had transferred them into big pots and arranged them neatly with my other plants, wanting to give me a surprise.

The leaves are attractive in shades of light beige/yellow and green. Not only the leaves are variegated but the fruits are variegated too. They make very attractive ornamental shrubs or plants in the garden. They are also very hardy plants and able to tolerate hot weather.

Initially the plants were placed in semi-shady place and they were full of leaves and not fruiting at all. So we shifted the plants to where they can get the sun at least a few hours a day.

These plants need sunlight and well-drained soil to grow well. With regular feeding of fertilizer they started to bear flowers and fruits started forming. Initially quite a number of fruits dropped and only a few remained on the plants till they ripen.

Lately the plants are fruiting well and we can see more fruits staying healthy on the plants. The skin of the variegated fruits are not as thin and soft as the normal calamansi fruits.

When we were kids, my friends and I used to eat calamansi limes by peeling off the skin from the fruits and we will suck the juice together with a dried salted sour plum in our mouth, enjoying the taste of the mouth watering sweet, sour juice. I am now salivating just recalling the feel of the juice in my mouth. At present, I do not have any sour plum in my house or else I would love to pluck one of the lime and do the same again, slurps....

Usefulness of Calamansi fruits:

For tenderizing meat, for sauce and marinade.

Apply onto fish to remove fish smell before cooking.
Rich in Vitamin C

a) For juice, add a teaspoon of honey or more to the juice to help resist cough, cold, sore throat and expel phlegm from lungs. I love calamansi juice with honey. It is very refreshing.

b) Calamansi juice can be added to other juices too. Juices can be iced or lukewarm.

c) Drinking warm calamansi can act as a laxative to relieve constipation.

d) Good tonic for liver.

e) Relieve from indigestion, nausea.

Other uses:

• Helps to promote hair growth and relieve itchy scalps.
• Remove rust from silverware.
• Bring shine to fork and spoons
• Promote healthy gums and strengthen teeth
• Cut lime to rub on skin for skin toning (twice a day)
• Keep armpits from sweating and odor free

Drink or use with caution in case of mild side effects.

I love to drink lime juice with dried salted sour plum without any sugar added. If I make this juice at home, I will add some honey to it. Whenever I feel satiated with over-eating, indigestion or nausea, a glass of lukewarm lime juice with sour plum added will help me feel better.

Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it;

I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.

(Jeremiah 33:6, NIV)