Cocktail of the Summer: Frozen Calamansi Margarita

Are you ready to elevate your cocktail game this summer?

A frozen calamansi margarita is the perfect refreshing and tropical drink to enjoy on those hot days.

While classic margaritas are always a crowd-pleaser, calamansi juice adds an island twist that will set the mood for your summer beach day, barbeque, or backyard gathering.

Frozen calamansi margarita is an ice-blended cocktail made from calamansi citrus, tequila, and honey. It brings together the tartness of calamansi, the warmth of tequila, and the sweetness of honey for a perfectly balanced and refreshing sip.

Our blog post will teach you how easy it is to create this stunning cocktail! Come read our other blog posts for delicious cocktail recipes!

With just a few simple ingredients, you can enjoy a taste of the tropical Philippines in the comfort of your own home.

Multiply this recipe for a crowd or keep it all to yourself – we won’t judge!

Keep reading for the step-by-step instructions on how to make your very own frozen calamansi margarita.

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Table of Contents

What is Calamansi?

Calamansi, also known as “calamondin” or “Philippine lime”, is a small citrus fruit native to the Philippines and commonly used in Southeast Asian cuisine.

This citrus fruit is widely cultivated in the Philippines for its juice. It’s an important ingredient in Philippine cuisine because it’s used in everything from marinades and dipping sauces to desserts and beverages.

If you have never tasted it before, it has a unique flavor profile that is both tart and slightly sweet. The plant is a hybrid of kumquat and mandarin orange, resulting in a citrusy flavor that is sure to tantalize your taste buds.

Surprisingly, calamansi is difficult to find fresh in the U.S. Unless you know someone who grows it themselves, you will likely have to rely on bottled, frozen, and concentrated calamansi juice.

In Filipino markets, you will also come across fresh key limes which are slightly larger than calamansi and not as sweet. Personally, we think they taste more like little limes than calamansi, but this is often the fresh substitute that people use in recipes calling for calamansi.

Health Benefits of Calamansi

Before we dive into the recipe, let’s talk about the health benefits of calamansi. Not only is calamansi delicious, but it also offers numerous health benefits. It can aid with collagen production, weight loss, control cholesterol and boost the immune system.

So when you drink a frozen calamansi margarita, not only are you indulging in a delicious cocktail, but you’re also treating your body to some extra vitamins and antioxidants!

Why You’ll Love Frozen Calamansi Margaritas

There are several reasons why you’ll fall in love with frozen calamansi margaritas:

1. Tropical and unique flavor – Calamansi juice is often sweetened with honey to create a perfectly balanced tangy and sweet flavor that is unlike any other citrus fruit. Add some tequila and ice, and you have a tropical paradise in your glass!
2. Refreshing and cooling – Frozen cocktails are the ultimate summer drink. There’s something about that icy texture and the refreshing flavors that instantly cool you down on a hot day.
3. Easy to make – This frozen calamansi margarita recipe is incredibly simple and requires just a few ingredients and a blender. You don’t need to be a mixologist to create this delightful drink!

Perfect Pairings: Food to Enjoy with Your Calamansi Margarita

What’s a cocktail without some delicious food to go along with it?

Here are some perfect pairings to enjoy with your frozen calamansi margarita:

Raw or Grilled Seafood – try oyster kinilaw (Filipino oyster ceviche)

Spicy Foods – try Bicol Express, spicy recipes, Mexipino Food (a fusion of Mexican and Filipino food! Side story: There was recently a Mexipino Food Fest in Burbank a few weeks ago that we unfortunately missed out on. If you haven’t tried this fusion, you must!)

Fried Foods – veggie lumpia, fried enoki mushrooms, nachos, fried bangus

Grilled or Smoked Meats – chicken inasal, air fryer pork belly sisig, fajitas, smoked pork belly or ribs

Let us know in the comments what your favorite pairings are with your frozen calamansi margarita!

Ingredients for Frozen Calamansi Margarita

• 2 oz tequila
• ½ oz cointreau or triple sec
• ½ oz frozen pure calamansi juice 1 packet. See Note 1.
• 2 tsp honey
• 2 cups ice as needed
• sliced citrus garnish (optional)
• salt rim garnish (optional)

Note 1. You can easily find frozen pure calamansi juice packets at Filipino markets or through the Weee! Grocery delivery app. We always have this ingredient on hand because it’s convenient for drinks, marinades, and other Filipino dishes. The 1/2 oz packets are perfect for one serving of calamansi juice, or in our case, margaritas. But if you can find fresh calamansi, we love that for you!

Recipe

1. Combine ingredients in a blender, adding ice last.

2. Blend on low or pulse to crush the ice. Then blend on higher speed until you reach a slushy consistency. This should take less than a minute.

3. Pour into a chilled glass, garnish, and serve immediately.

Customizing Your Calamansi Margarita

Cocktail thickness: Depending on your preference, you can adjust the thickness of your frozen calamansi margarita. Add more or less ice to achieve your desired consistency.

Sweetness level: you can adjust the amount of honey to add more or less sweetness to your frozen calamansi margarita. You may also substitute honey for simple syrup or any sweetener of your choice.

Cocktail salt rim: We know that people either love it or hate it. If you love a salt rim, you can rim the entire edge of your glass with salt before pouring in the frozen calamansi margarita. If you enjoy it only a little, you can just rim one side of the glass, shaped using the half-circle side of a lime wedge (as pictured) so you can decide how much saltiness you want in each sip. And of course, you can omit the salt rim altogether if it’s not your thing.

Tips for Making Frozen Margaritas

While frozen cocktails are fun and easy, there are a few tips and tricks to making frozen drinks. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

1. Keep your ingredients cold. Refrigerate the tequila and cointreau/triple sec, and keep the ice and calamansi juice packet in the freezer up until it’s time to blend. As an added bonus, chill your glassware before serving to keep your margarita nice and frosty.
2. Use small or crushed ice cubes to ensure a smooth and slushy consistency. If you use large ice cubes, it may result in a chunky texture.
3. Add ice to the blender last to ensure a smooth and icy texture. This will help you control the consistency of your frozen calamansi margarita.

Final Thoughts

Take a sip to transport yourself to a tropical paradise with this refreshing frozen calamansi margarita! Use this recipe for a fun and refreshing twist on the classic margarita!

We hope you enjoy this recipe! Share your creations on Instagram and tag us @itsforkandspoon!

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References & Further Reading

https://www.foodnetwork.com/fn-dish/recipes/how-to-make-a-frozen-margarita

https://www.thejoint.com/california/mission-viejo/mission-viejo-31163/334276-health-benefits-calamansi-juice

https://www.foodnetwork.com/fn-dish/recipes/how-to-make-a-frozen-margarita

https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/how-to-make-frozen-drinks/https://www.liquor.com/how-to-make-frozen-cocktails-6502945

https://greatist.com/eat/what-is-the-difference-between-limes-and-key-limes#Whats-in-a-name?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calamansi