In the wake of interest in exotic cuisine, kumquat is gaining more and more popularity. This tiny fruit, sometimes referred to as a mini orange, is not only available but also easily grown at home.
What is a kumquat?
A kumquat is an evergreen tree or shrub. Its homeland is China, but currently it can be found in countries with warm climates. The fruit came to Europe in the 19th century thanks to Scottish botanist Robert Fortuna. This tree has beautiful white flowers with an intense aroma and small orange fruits with a thin, edible rind. Kumquat is classified as a citrus species, hence the comparison with oranges. It is an ornamental plant, its leaves are bright green, shiny and fleshy. Trees in natural conditions can grow from 2 to 4 meters in height.
How to grow?
Kumquats can be successfully grown at home. The most popular varieties available on the market are Rotondo, Obovata and Margarita. Like other citrus fruits, the fruit is not very picky to grow. It tolerates fluctuations in temperature well and definitely prefers sunlit places, so you need to choose a bright and constantly lit place. In summer, the plant needs abundant watering, and in winter it is necessary to keep the soil moist and not let it dry out completely. This is extremely important, otherwise the tree will dry out.
How and with what is it eaten?
The kumquat fruit is extremely aromatic and has a sour taste, which makes it perfectly refreshing on hot days. Most often they are eaten raw, along with the skin. You can cook them whole or divide them into quarters. The fruits are an excellent addition to all types of desserts, they perfectly balance the sweetness of the dishes. It is the perfect accompaniment to sweet ice cream. They are also used in salads, for example in combination with iceberg lettuce, spinach or beetroot. When buying kumquat fruit, you need to pay attention to the integrity of the rind. The color of the ripe fruit is uniformly orange.
Kumquat is widely used in compotes or tinctures. You can also make the jam in an unusual way - just lightly fry it with spices, you can add other fruits: oranges, tangerines, peaches or apricots. The aroma of the fruit is easily accentuated by spices such as vanilla, anise, cloves, cardamom, lemongrass and cinnamon. On the other hand, candied kumquat can be made to preserve its flavor and aroma. A layer of sugar sprinkled with fruit soothes the slight bitterness of the fruit skin. In this form, it can be eaten as an independent snack, decoration of dishes and an ingredient from candied fruits, added, for example, to fruit pies, jellies or biscuits.
When it comes to the nutritional benefits of fruit, the kumquat is amazing. It is a rich source of vitamin C, thanks to which it helps with colds and upper respiratory tract infections. It contains carbohydrates, fiber, minerals and potassium. Anyone who is not indifferent to the figure will certainly be pleased with the fact that it is low in calories - 70 per 100 grams of fruit.
As you can see, kumquat has a lot of advantages. With a little effort, you can enjoy the taste of delicious fruits, and, by the way, get a beautiful window sill decoration. And what a satisfaction from bountiful harvests! However, if there is no desire or ability to grow kumquats at home, raw fruits or candied fruits can be easily found in stores. Try them! They will certainly enrich the taste of your dishes by adding exoticism.
