The most commonly used calcium salt of citric acid is tricalcium dicitrate tetrahydrate, hereinafter referred to as tricalcium citrate. In some countries such as USA, tricalcium citrate is simply denominated calcium citrate. It is produced by complete neutralisation of citric acid with a high purity calcium source such as calcium hydroxide or calcium carbonate.

With its high calcium content of 21%, tricalcium citrate is the most economic calcium salt among the commonly used organic calcium salts.

Tricalcium citrate is supplied as a white, odourless, crystalline powder or fine powder. It is slightly soluble in water and freely soluble in diluted hydrochloric acid. In contrary to other salts, tricalcium citrate is better soluble at lower temperatures (so-called "inverse solubility"). It is practically insoluble in alcohol.

During heat treatment, it is less reactive than other calcium salts due to its inverse solubility. With regard to its significantly better bioavailability, tricalcium citrate is preferred over inorganic calcium sources such as calcium carbonate or calcium phosphate.