Kumquats

Inventory, 10 lbs : 2.16
This item was last sold on : 01/28/23

• 26 Featured Restaurants

• 23 Recipe Ideas

• 25 ShareMarket®

Description/Taste

Kumquats are small fruits, averaging 2 to 5 centimeters in length, and have an oval, round to oblong shape. The fruit’s skin is thin, ripening from green to golden yellow, orange, or red-orange, depending on the variety, and has a glossy, taut appearance with prominent oil glands scattered across the surface. The skin also clings tightly to the flesh, and there is little to no bitter white pith present in the fruit. The flesh is divided into 3 to 6 segments and is semi-aqueous and tender, encasing a few cream-colored seeds. Kumquats are a unique citrus as the entire fruit is edible, including the peel, flesh, and seeds. The fruit’s peel is sweet, subtly floral, and fruity, balancing the tart, sour taste of the flesh, creating an intense sweet-tart combination with a zesty, citrus zing.

Seasons/Availability

Kumquats have multiple fruiting seasons throughout the year in Asia and Southeast Asia. In the United States, the fruits are primarily available in the winter through early summer.

Current Facts

Kumquats, botanically classified as Citrus japonica, are small, sweet-tart fruits belonging to the Rutaceae family. The fruits grow in clusters on evergreen trees, reaching 2 to 4 meters in height, and each tree can produce hundreds of fruits per season. Kumquats are native to Asia, and the name Kumquat roughly translates from Cantonese words to mean “golden orange.” The cold-hardy citrus is favored for its edible peel, small size, and bright, zesty flavor. Experts believe there are approximately 4 to 6 varieties of Kumquats and the three most cultivated species worldwide include Nagami, Marumi, and Meiwa. In Asia, Kumquats have been intertwined with the Lunar New Year Festival and often symbolize good luck and prosperity. The trees are commonly planted in doorways or grown as bonsai, and the fruits are also cut from the tree with glossy green leaves to use as gifts to families and friends. Outside of Asia, Kumquats have remained a niche market citrus but are growing in popularity as chefs, social media, and growers educate consumers on the fruit’s commercial value.

Nutritional Value

Kumquats are an excellent source of fiber to regulate the digestive tract and vitamin C to strengthen the immune system and reduce inflammation. The fruits also contain manganese, vitamin A to maintain healthy organ functioning, calcium to protect bones and teeth, and provide lower amounts of iron, zinc, potassium, vitamin E, and copper. Inside the sweet peel, essential oils such as limonene and flavonoids offer antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Herbalists in Asia also use Kumquats as a remedy for symptoms of colds and flu. The fruits are traditionally smashed, mixed with ginger, salt, and honey, and steeped as a soothing tea.

Applications

Kumquats are entirely edible, well suited for flavoring both raw and cooked preparations. The fruits can be consumed straight, out of hand, or they can be sliced and tossed into green and fruit salads, layered over avocado toast, chopped into salsa, or pickled to create a sweet and sour topping. It is important to note that the seeds in the flesh are edible and can be used as a natural source of pectin for jams and jellies. Kumquats can also be utilized in savory preparations, diced and cooked into sauces, braising liquids, and glazes for meat or stirred into couscous and stuffing for a tangy flavor. In sweet preparations, Kumquats can be candied, baked into muffins, cakes, and pies, simmered into marmalade, jams, and chutney, or they can be cooked into a syrup for tarts, ice cream, and yogurt. In mixology, the fruits are used as an edible garnish and can be infused into vodka for a citrus twist. The fruits can also be sliced and stirred into champagne cocktails, fruit punches, or sparkling juices. Kumquats pair well with nuts such as almonds, pecans, and walnuts, fruits, including calamondin, blood oranges, pineapple, kiwis, cranberries, and cherries, mint, honey, ginger, meats such as pork, duck, and poultry, seafood, and greens including watercress, spinach, endive, and frisee. Whole, unwashed Kumquats will keep up to seven days at room temperature. When stored in the refrigerator in a sealed container, the fruits will keep 1 to 2 weeks.

Ethnic/Cultural Info

In Dade City, Florida, the Kumquat Festival® celebrates Florida-grown Kumquats. The annual event has been held for over twenty-four years and was established by the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce to increase tourism and boost the economy. During the festival, over 400 vendors line city streets to sell crafts, fresh fruits, homemade baked goods, and Kumquat-infused dishes, including ice cream, salsa, vinaigrettes, marmalade, cookies, pies, and cocktails. Two days before the festival, local Kumquat growers also host open houses and allow visitors to tour the farms. Visitors can attend educational talks, grove and packing tours, and sample the different Kumquat varieties being grown. These open houses allow the growers to connect with the consumers, creating space to share the importance of Kumquat production within the region.

Geography/History

Kumquats are native to Southeast Asia and have been growing wild since ancient times. The fruits were first documented in China in the 12th century, grown for culinary, medicinal, and cultural uses, and were symbolically believed to bring good luck and prosperity when placed in households. Kumquats were also extensively cultivated in Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines, and India in the early ages. In 1846, Kumquats were introduced into Europe by Robert Fortune, a Scottish botanist who was also a plant explorer for the London Horticultural Society. From Europe, Kumquats were brought to North America with immigrants and were planted in Florida as a potential fruit for commercial cultivation. Today Kumquats are primarily grown in California and Florida of the United States, sometimes on a smaller scale in Texas and Louisiana, and are also cultivated in Asia, the Middle East, South Africa, Australia, Europe, and Central and South America. When in season, the fruits can be found fresh at farmer’s markets, specialty grocers, and select supermarkets.

Featured Restaurants

Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.

Ron Oliver	San Diego	619-295-3172
Marriott Gaslamp	San Diego CA	619-696-0234 x6051
Alila Marea Beach Resort	Encinitas CA	805-539-9719
James Coffee Co. Escondido	Escondido CA	619-961-5805
Verbena Kitchen LLC	San Diego CA	609-458-1672
Mille Fleurs	Rancho Santa Fe CA	858-756-3085
Campfire	Carlsbad CA	760-637-5121
Kingfisher	San Diego CA	619-861-8074
Solare Ristorante Lounge	San Diego CA	619-270-9670
Georges at the Cove	San Diego CA	858-454-4244
West Brew-Downtown	San Diego CA	619-726-6567
Vi At La Jolla Village	San Diego CA	858-646-7700
Trust Restaurant	San Diego CA	609-780-7572
Webbcreationfood LLC	San Diego CA	619-829-9194
Sycuan Casino	El Cajon CA	619-445-6002
Seneca Bar	San Diego CA	619-588-2411
Juniper & Ivy	San Diego CA	858-481-3666
Pacific Regent La Jolla	San Diego CA	858-597-8008
Mission Pacific	Oceanside CA	760-450-7864
Mister A's Pastry	San Diego CA	619-239-1377

the other 6...

Poseidon on the Beach	Del Mar CA	858-755-9345
Pacifica Del Mar	Del Mar CA	858-792-0505
Avant	San Diego CA	858-675-8505
Hommage Bakehouse	San Diego CA	619-559-8351
Catamaran	San Diego CA	858-488-1081
Park Hyatt Aviara (Ember & Rye)	Carlsbad CA	760-448-1234

Recipe Ideas

Recipes that include Kumquats. One

is easiest, three is harder.

Beauty Everyday		Kumquat Glaze and Pound Cake
Healthy Green Kitchen		Kumquat Marmalade with Champagne and Figs
Family Spice		Toast Margarita Day with a Kumquat Margarita
Beauty Everyday		Candied Kumquats
Never Enough Thyme		Pickled Baby Beets with Herbed Goat Cheese and Kumquats
Sugar Et Al		Double Chocolate Pancakes With Poached Kumquats
The White Ramekins		Orange & Kumquat Gluten Free Cake
Honey & Jam		Chocolate Pavlova with Candied Kumquats
The Spruce		Preserved Whole Kumquats
jackie-es		DRIED KUMQUATS

the other 13...

Food + Words		Kumquat Poppyseed Vinaigrette
Sugar Hero		Chocolate Tart with Candied Kumquats
The Bojon Gourmet		Gluten-Free Black Sesame Kumquat Financiers
The Bojon Gourmet		Lavender Kumquat Shrub
Tarladalal		Pistachio Meringue Cake with Citrus, Candied Kumquats, & Cardamom Caramel Sauce
Honest Cooking		Brandy Dipped Citrus Salad
Tori Avey		Honey-Preserved Kumquats
Citron & Vanille		Kumquat Chutney
Vanilla Garlic		Pickled Kumquats
Baking Obsession		Candied Kumquat Tiramisu
Chopstick Chronicles		Kumquat Marmalade
Eat Make Read		Kumquat Salsa
Downshiftology		Basil Chicken with Kumquats

Recently Shared

People have shared Kumquats using the Specialty Produce app for iPhone and Android.

Produce Sharing allows you to share your produce discoveries with your neighbors and the world! Is your market carrying green dragon apples? Is a chef doing things with shaved fennel that are out of this world? Pinpoint your location annonymously through the Specialty Produce App and let others know about unique flavors that are around them.