What’s a Kumquat?
If you’re asking yourself what in the world a Kumquat is, you’re not alone. We were quite curious about these tiny orange fruits so we did our homework. Kumquats are an exotic fruit, which is why many of us haven’t heard of them before. These fruits are incredibly popular in China, where it is common to place a potted Kumquat plant on the dinner table for guests to snack on. Over the years, Kumquats have made their way over to the United States. Although their name literally translates as “Golden Orange”, researchers have discovered they are not part of the citrus family. Due to the cellular differences, Kumquats were given their own genus called Fortunella.
How do you eat them?
Not such a silly question if you think about it. You peel oranges, so wouldn’t you peel a Kumquat? Actually, many people eat them as they are…skin and all. While the pulp is sour, the skin is what gives the Kumquat that sweet flavor. They do contain small seeds, however they are edible. Just rinse them off and you can eat them just like grapes.
Storage
You can keep them at room temperature for a few days if you plan on eating them. If you aren’t ready to use them yet, you can store them in the refrigerator just like any other fruit.
Uses
It is common to make marmalade, jellies, cookies, or pies with Kumquats. They are also known to compliment meats such as pork or chicken. Kumquats also give great flavor to seafood. Try replacing lemons or limes in your recipes for something different.
Nutrition
Kumquats have an excellent source of Dietary Fiber when eating the entire fruit. They also contain high amounts of Vitamin C, Potassium, Calcium and Vitamin B.
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