Kumquat season 2011

This small fruit is closely related to the Citrus-family. It is juicy and tart and has an edible skin. We are now changing seasons from Israel to Spain. The spanish season will last until the end of April, early May. South Africa will start shipping kumquats later in May.

In the beginning maybe a somewhat particular taste experience, but the kumquat can be eaten whole. The slightly tart/bitter outer skin is accompanied by a sweet juicy inner flesh. Kumquats are either oval or round in shape depending on the variety. For instance, the Nagami kumquat is oval shaped and has a yellowish skin while the Marumi kumquat has a round shape and is more orange. Most Europeans prefer the Nagami variety.

Although many kumquat trees are grown for their sweet, edible fruits, they are also used as ornamental plants because of their attractive, shiny leaves and delicate flowers that bloom in the summer.

The most common use for kumquat is to eat it whole. Other popular uses for the fruit include adding pieces of it to fruit salads or to dessert recipes or using it to make marmalades, but kumquats are also often pickled or preserved in syrups for future use. You can even freeze them and use them like ice cubes in drinks.