Kumma say what?? Kumquat?!?!
Hello, my name is Angi and until two weeks ago I had zero kumquat knowledge. In actuality I didn’t know that a kumquat was even a real thing much less that it was an edible food. For all I knew it was a vulgar slang word for a body part. Seriously, if that baby girl teen queen of mine had uttered the word “kumquat” I would have assumed it was some new EXPLICIT ebonic word she picked up from today’s rap music.
You could call me kumquat uneducated. I had never given any thought to a kumquat. Arguably the name sounded like a made up type of candy from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, BUT guess what? A kumquat is an actual thing and whatsmore…it’s a fruit!!!!!! Who knew??
Now I’m in the kumquat know!
Right now all of the fruit foodies of the world are rolling their eyes and shaking their heads at me. I beg for your fruit forgiveness. I’m sorry I didn’t know. I’m thrilled that there are those of you that are super dee duper expert Earnie on the strange tiny orange miniature balls. I’m proud that you have been eating kumquats for eons. Good for you fruity two shoes!
Kumquats for everyone!
Kumquats are pretty powerful pungent little suckers. Y’all these little orangey rounds are quite stout. Blending tangy and citrus blasted right onto the tastebuds. I was a bit anxious at first because my trusted foodie gal pal instructed me to pop one right in and chew. Wait what? Kumma say what about the outer skin? Apparently you are suppose to eat the whole fruit and nothing but the fruit. I desperately wanted to draw the line. I have been eating oranges all of my ever-loving life and never have I ever bit into an orange before I removed the peeling.
BUT…the kumquat is a different bird fruit. Peeling and all go in the mouth in one fell swoop. Down the hatch it went! It felt so abnormal to bite into a fruit, which mimics an bitty orange, with the peeling in tact!
These tiny natural snacks appear to be a premature derivative of the orange. It’s much smaller than a mandarin and more oval in shape. They grow from a tree and have a sweet smell off the vine. The aroma is wonderful.
Nutrition Facts
Kumquats
Amount Per 1 fruit without refuse (19 g)
Calories 13
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0.2 g 0%
Saturated fat 0 g 0%
Polyunsaturated fat 0 g
Monounsaturated fat 0 g
Cholesterol 0 mg 0%
Sodium 2 mg 0%
Potassium 35 mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 3 g 1%
Dietary fiber 1.2 g 4%
Sugar 1.8 g
Protein 0.4 g 0%
Vitamin A 1% Vitamin C 13%
Calcium 1% Iron 1%
Vitamin D 0% Vitamin B-6 0%
Vitamin B-12 0% Magnesium 1%
After eating several kumquats with my friend I was most intrigued. Mainly that this tough pocket sized fruit is suppose to be eaten whole. Maybe, I didn’t believe her, so sue me! In any case I went home to do some research. You’re welcome.
How to eat a kumquat without the bitter beer face, sour lemon look sour packed punch?
Nibble off the end of the fruit. Squeeze out the juice then pop the whole fruit into your mouth and chew! AWWW now that’s better! The juice is the carrier of the lip puckering eye squinting taste.
If you are a gluten for sour punishment and bitter citrus flavor then by all means take it in whole. I think salads could benefit from these zesty fruit nibblets. Who knows, maybe even provide a little tang to a chicken flavored asian infused dish. I shall experiment with my new orange friends. The vitamin c and potassium content is the most beneficial aspect. If you dare to give your sick child an immune kumquat boost, be sure to de-tang it before you ask them to pop one. Otherwise you are liable to get a big fat “Mom!!!!”
It’s fun to learn something new. I should confess that I get trapped in robotic ruts. You could say that I have been in a produce aisle safe zone. I vow to branch out and will surly stop and smell the kumquats.
Something else to think about is fruit infusing water. I can totally see squirting a few of these into one of my PressABottle infused water concoctions. Who knows…these tart babies might be the perfect bitter, orangeee, flavor to mix with a glass of champagne. This would be super similar to a Champagne cocktail minus the sugar cube and bitters. The kumquat would act as a natural combination sweetener and dash of bitter The possibilities are endless. Who KNEW?
Now we all know!
What’s your kumquats experience?
Love, learn and feel the burn!
Angi xo
PS. Mr. Chicken Fry is going to have a field day with this one…in more ways than one. I’m 99.5% sure that he is also a kumquat dummie!
