Kumquat has several names: in European countries it is often called fortunella, and in Japan - kinkan. It is originally a citrus plant from China, where it is called the "golden apple." Like the other, more familiar citrus fruits, fortunella produces fruits of a bright orange color (though small in size) with a characteristic aroma. But to taste it does not particularly resemble either an orange or mandarin. Moreover, unlike its counterparts, kumquat is eaten with peel (although it has a hint of essential oils in it, it is sweeter than other citrus fruits).
As for the benefits of this
exotic fruit, it is huge. To the question: “Kumquat - what is it?” The correct answer would be - a storehouse of vitamins and minerals. This delicious baby contains a truly incredible amount of potassium and calcium, folic acid and pectin, as well as vitamins A, B, C and P. Moreover, they are rich in fresh kumquat, dried, and also made in the form of jam (in the latter version, of course, it’s useful less than the rest). Fortunella also contains a unique natural bactericidal and antifungal component called furocoumarin. Thanks to him, Kinkan perfectly fights infections that affect the respiratory, digestive and other systems of the human body.
Unfortunately,
kumquat is not very common in our markets
. What it is, and where it can be bought, far from all fruit distributors know. And even if there is a fresh fortunella on sale, its price will be sky-high compared to other citrus fruits.
In addition to the fight against infections, kumquat is indicated for stress, for the prevention of peptic ulcer, in addition, it perfectly helps with a hangover. Surprisingly, only a few miniature fruits are able to completely eliminate the symptoms of the consequences of a serious feast.
As for the use of fortunella, the simplest option is to eat it simply fresh. This fruit tastes good, sweet and sour, with a pronounced citrus flavor. The only thing that can cause trouble when using it is the bones, which in some varieties of kinkan are many. In many salads (and not only fruit), kumquat can also be added. Photos showing slices of miniature
citrus fruits in the salad, just say about his presence. In addition, from it, as from any fruit, you can make jam (although, then you need to stock up on fruits in sufficient quantities). Some types of fortunella grow in Georgia, they are more affordable, but not as tasty as Japanese or Chinese. If desired, a kumquat tree can be grown at home. It is not too whimsical and, with proper care, may well bear fruit even in a flower pot.
Having grown enough kumquat at home, you can make jam from it, which will be an excellent immunostimulant and will help with colds. He will need ginger, sugar and, of course, kumquat (what it is, is already clear). For 400 g of its fruits, 100 g of sugar and 50 g of ginger should be taken. Syrup is brewed from sugar by adding half a glass of water and grated ginger, then the fruits of fortunella are cut in half and boiled, stirring, for 20 minutes. The finished drug is stored in the refrigerator and consumed at the first sign of a cold or just with tea.
In supermarkets, you can often find dried kumquat. What it is is written on the price tag or on the packaging. It can be sold either chopped, in the form of chips, or whole in syrup, like candied fruits.