Kalamansi is a small, tangy Filipino citrus fruit, somewhere between a lime and a mandarin, used to add sharpness to sauces, drinks and marinades. Fresh kalamansi is hard to find in the UK, so bottled kalamansi juice or concentrate is the more practical option for most home cooks.
Where to buy kalamansi in the UK
Fresh kalamansi is rare in the UK, so bottled kalamansi juice or concentrate from a Filipino grocer or online is the practical route.
Which aisle is kalamansi in?
Mainstream UK supermarkets do not stock kalamansi, fresh or bottled. Filipino grocers keep bottled juice near other citrus products and vinegars.
Asian supermarkets
A Filipino grocer is the most reliable source for bottled juice, and occasionally stocks fresh fruit in season.
Buying it online
Online is often the easiest route given how rare fresh kalamansi is in the UK.
Concentrate vs ready-to-drink
Ask whether a shop’s kalamansi juice is a concentrate needing dilution or ready-to-drink strength, since the two are priced and used differently, a concentrate goes much further for cooking purposes.
What is kalamansi?
How to use it
- Squeezed into dipping sauces alongside soy sauce or fish sauce.
- Added to marinades for grilled meat, as in chicken inasal.
- Mixed with water and sugar for a refreshing drink, similar to limeade.
Fresh vs bottled availability
Fresh kalamansi is genuinely hard to find in the UK outside a handful of specialist greengrocers in season, most home cooks rely entirely on bottled juice or concentrate, which is a perfectly good substitute for both cooking and drinks.
Making a simple kalamansi drink
Mixed with water and a little sugar, kalamansi juice makes a refreshing drink similar to limeade, adjust the sweetness to taste since the fruit itself is more tart than sweet.
The best kalamansi to buy in the UK
Kalamansi Farms or UFC are the bottled kalamansi juices most reliably found through Filipino grocers and online in the UK. Kalamansi juice is bottled or concentrated juice from a small, tangy Filipino citrus fruit, since fresh kalamansi is rarely sold in the UK.
What to check on the label
- Juice versus concentrate, concentrate needs diluting and stretches further.
- Added sugar, some bottles are pre-sweetened while others are pure juice.
- Bottle size relative to how often you cook Filipino food, since it is used a little at a time.
Kalamansi juice vs concentrate
| Type | Convenience | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Ready-to-use juice | Pour and use | Occasional cooking |
| Concentrate | Dilute to taste, stretches further | Frequent use, better value |
Fresh-style vs concentrate
Ready-to-drink kalamansi juice is convenient for dressings and marinades, while a concentrate needs diluting but stretches much further and works out cheaper per use. If you use kalamansi often, a concentrate is the better value choice once you know your preferred dilution.
Added sugar
Some bottled kalamansi juices have sugar already added, aimed at drinking rather than cooking, which can throw off a savoury dipping sauce like toyomansi. Check the label for a pure, unsweetened juice if you plan to use it mainly in cooking rather than as a drink.
Bottle vs pouch
Some brands sell kalamansi juice in a resealable pouch rather than a bottle, both work equally well, check which is easier to store upright in your fridge door.
How to store kalamansi
Keep an opened bottle in the fridge, where it keeps for a few weeks, an unopened bottle lasts considerably longer in the cupboard thanks to its acidity and any preservatives added during bottling.
Keep bottled juice in the fridge once opened, where it keeps for a few weeks.
Frequently asked questions
Can I substitute lime for kalamansi?
Yes, a mix of lime and a little orange juice gets reasonably close to the balance of tart and sweet in kalamansi.
Where can I buy kalamansi in the UK?
Fresh fruit is rare, but bottled kalamansi juice or concentrate is sold through Filipino grocers and online.
What is kalamansi juice used for?
Dipping sauces like toyomansi, marinades, and drinks.
Is kalamansi the same as calamansi?
Yes, it is the same fruit, just spelled differently depending on the brand or region.