I received feedback when I featured the recipe for alamang with kamias a few weeks ago. It seems many of us remember eating this simple dish.

One of the reactions came from an old friend from college, Louie Segismundo. He suggested using the kamias to make fruit juice. He said he often makes kamias juice using the fruits from their backyard. He uses about three fruits per serving, plus water and honey or brown sugar to taste. “It’s full of vitamin C,” he added.

Great suggestion, Louie. That’s certainly another practical and wholesome way to make use of this translucent, sour fruit.

Here’s the recipe for kamias cooler. Slightly sweet, with an underlying tartness, it’s a very refreshing drink on a hot summer day. However, being somewhat paranoid in these days of coronavirus, I’ve added a twist to the recipe. I microwaved the fruits for 30 seconds before putting them in a blender. Though it’s highly unlikely for these backyard fruits to be infected with the dreaded virus, I just thought zapping them in the microwave would make them safer to drink.

Make sure to put plenty of ice cubes to make the drink really cold. But if you have crushed ice, that would be even better.

It’s a refreshment packed with vitamin C.

Kamias Cooler

12 pcs medium-size kamias

2/3 c sugar

2 c water for the sugar

1 1/4 c water for kamias

6-9 ice cubes (or more) or crushed ice

Wash the kamias well with water and, if desired, sprinkle with baking soda to remove any dirt that may be clinging to the fruits (wash off baking soda well). Cut off the stem ends on both sides of the kamias. Slice the kamias into small pieces. Put them in a microwave-safe container and microwave for 30 seconds. Set aside.

Combine the sugar and two cups water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Let boil until the sugar dissolves completely and the liquid becomes clear. Remove from heat to let cool slightly.

Pour the kamias and the sugar solution into a large blender and process until well blended. Divide the ice cubes or crushed ice among two to three beverage glasses and strain the kamias juice into the glasses. If desired, add more ice cubes or crushed ice and garnish with sliced kamias before serving.

(The above recipe makes a slightly sweet, slightly tangy drink. If desired, you can adjust the amount of ingredients to your personal taste.)