What is the Difference Between Kumquat and Calamansi

Kumquat and Calamansi are small citrus fruits with a tangy, sour flavor. They may look similar, but they are two different fruits from the citrus family. Kumquat is a citrus fruit from the Fortunella family, while Calamansi is a hybrid of kumquat and mandarin orange.  

What is the main difference between Kumquat and Calamansi? Kumquats have a sweet peel and a sour inside, whereas Calamansi tastes very sour all the way through.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Kumquat 
     – Definition, Features
2. What is Calamansi
     – Definition, Features 
3. Similarities Between Kumquat and Calamansi
     – Outline of Common Features
4. Difference Between Kumquat and Calamansi
     – Comparison of Key Differences
5. FAQ: Kumquat and Calamansi
     – Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Key Terms

Kumquat, Calamansi, Citrus Fruits

What is Kumquat

Kumquat is an orange-like fruit native to China and Southeast Asia. They are bright orange when ripe and round or oblong in shape. Although Kumquats look like oranges in color and shape, they’re smaller and about the size of olives.

Kumquat has a distinctly citrusy flavor. The inside of the fruit is slightly sweet, but the overpowering flavor is sour and tangy. The peel of the fruit is edible and, in fact, the sweetest part.

The name “kumquat” comes from a Cantonese word that means “golden orange” or “golden tangerine.” It has been cultivated in China for centuries, but it was only introduced to the West in the mid-1800s.

Kumquat has several varieties, and the most common varieties are Nagami and Meiwa. Nagami kumquat is the most common variety grown in the United States. These are small, evergreen plants with dark green leaves and white, sweet-smelling flowers. Meiwa kumquats are more common in China. Nagami is generally tarter, while Meiwa is sweeter and rounder.

What is Calamansi

Calamansi is a citrus hybrid commonly grown in the Philippines. It’s considered to be a hybrid between Kumquat and another species of Citrus, most probably mandarin orange. Its full name is Citrus × microcarpa. It’s found in parts of Indonesia (Borneo, Sumatra, and Sulawesi), Brunei, Taiwan, Malaysia, and parts of southern China. Calamansi is a small, round fruit with green or dark yellow-orange skin that is about an inch in diameter. The trees are small, spiny, and 4 to 6 meters tall. In addition, they have green elliptic, oblong leaves.

Calamansi has a flavor similar to mandarin orange, but it is as sweet as it is sour. It also has a distinct sugary citrus scent. Moreover, its juice is tart and slightly sweet.

Calamansi is commonly used in traditional Philippine cuisine. It is used in various condiments, dishes, marinades, beverages, and preserves. It is also used in Malaysian and Indonesian cuisines.

Similarities Between Kumquat and Calamansi

• Both are small citrus fruits with a tangy, sour flavor.
• They are used in cooking and drinks, especially in Asian cuisines.
• Both are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants.

Difference Between Kumquat and Calamansi

Definition

• Kumquat is a small, oval citrus fruit from the Fortunella family, while Calamansi is a hybrid of kumquat and mandarin orange.  

Appearance

• Kumquats are small and oval-shaped and bright orange when ripe, whereas Calamansi are small, round and are green when unripe and turn orange when ripe.

Taste

• Kumquats have a sweet peel and a sour inside, whereas Calamansi tastes very sour all the way through, like a mix of lime and orange.

How They’re Eaten

• Kumquats are usually eaten whole with the peel, but Calamansi cannot be eaten whole.

FAQ: Kumquat and Calamansi

1. Are kumquats and calamansi the same?

No, kumquats and Calamansi are not the same. Kumquats are sweet on the outside and sour inside, while Calamansi is very sour all over and mostly used for its juice.

2. What is the English name for Calamansi?

The most common English name for Calamansi is calamondin. It’s sometimes also called Philippine lime or Philippine lemon. Its scientific name is Citrus × microcarpa.

3. What is another name for a kumquat?

Another name for a kumquat is cumquat — it’s just a different spelling, commonly used in British English.  There aren’t many other names for kumquats, but they belong to the Fortunella genus in the citrus family.

4. What is the closest fruit to calamansi?

Meyer lemons are quite similar to Calamansi in sweetness and tartness, so they can be used as a substitute. Regular lemon or lime juice also works, but they are more sour and less sweet.

5. What is a substitute for Calamansi?

A good substitute for Calamansi is Meyer lemon because it has a similar balance of sweetness and tartness. You can also use lemon juice, lime juice, or mandarin orange juice, but these may taste slightly more sour or sweet than Calamansi.

Reference:

1. “What is Calamansi?” Simply Recipes.

2. “Kumquat.” Wikipedia. Wikipedia Foundation.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Citrus × microcarpa kz1″ By Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz – Own work(CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia

2. “Kumquat from Spain” By Ivar Leidus – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia