Kumquats

Kumquats have a sweet rind and a zesty tart flesh.  You can eat them raw out of hand like a grape or slice them and toss them in a salad.  Kumquats look like small oranges. They are seldom larger than 1¼ inches (3 cm) across, about the size of a quail’s egg.  The rind is thick but tender, and the flesh is dry. The rind of a kumquat is not a separate covering from the fruit like an orange peel. The kumquat has no pith below its skin and for that reason is not bitter tasting. Kumquats sometimes contain seeds.

While kumquats look like small citrus, they are not. They belong to their own genus and share only their color in common with oranges.  The kumquat originated in Southeast Asia. It has been cultivated in China since at least the twelfth century. The name kumquat is a corruption of the Chinese chin kan which means “golden mandarin”.

Nutrition:  Kumquats are low fat, saturated fat free, cholesterol free, very low sodium, excellent source of vitamin C and fiber.

What To Look For:  Choose kumquats that are firm, not soft.

How to Store:  Store kumquats at room temperature for a few days or up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.

Did you know?  You eat the entire fruit, skin and all, like a grape.  The skin of the kumquats is sweet while the flesh is quite tart.  Small seeds may be swallowed or spit out.