What is the name of the little tangerine? Kumquat: what is this fruit and how to eat it

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Nature is diverse and amazing, because it gives a person a lot of useful vitamins and minerals necessary to maintain strength and he alth. For example, there is one interesting fruit that, perhaps, not everyone is familiar with. It is a storehouse of substances useful for the body, and outwardly resembles a small tangerine. What is the name of this fruit? How is it useful and how to use it correctly? You can learn about this from the article.

Kumquat: what kind of fruit is it?

Like his relatives, he is a member of the citrus family. Occasionally it can be found in supermarkets both fresh and dried.

At the moment, there are six species of this fruit in nature. Namely:

• Hong Kong;
• Malay;
• marumi;
• meiva;
• nagami;
• fukushi.

They are all similar, but may have some differences in shape, color or skin tone.

Outwardly, the kumquat resembles a reduced size lemon or a slightly oval tangerine. ATits length does not exceed five centimeters, and its width - four. The color is usually yellow-orange.

How many grams in a small tangerine? As a rule, the weight of one fruit does not exceed thirty grams.

Different from many citrus fruits is that it can be eaten directly with the peel.

The taste of the fruit is very similar to other citrus fruits, but has some sourness. The peel of these small oval tangerines has a tart sweet taste. It is this combination that makes eating kumquat so unusual.

The birthplace of the fruit is China. This explains its name, as the small tangerine kumquat is called for a reason. Translated from Chinese, this word means "golden orange". Its second common name is kinkan. In addition, occasionally you can find such a fruit name as calamondin mandarin.

A bit of history

The first mention of such fruits are found in the Chinese chronicles of the twelfth century. However, the answer to the question of what the small tangerine kumquat was called in those days has not remained.

Europeans got to know them only 700 years later, when in the 19th century the fruits were brought by sailors from Portugal. Then they began to call them small tangerines, which are eaten with a peel.

The fruit was brought to England by a learned botanist named Robert Fortune in the middle of the same century (1846). Thanks to this, the small oval tangerine has another name -fortune.

Locations and growing conditions

The fruit prefers a humid subtropical climate, so it can easily be found in southeast Asia, India, China, and Japan.

However, practice shows that it is possible to grow fruit in a pot, while the fruits will delight the owner with the same interesting rich taste. If you plant such a plant on your windowsill, then during its fruiting be ready to answer the questions of your guests: “What is this little tangerine. What is the name of this tree?”

The maximum lifespan of a tree does not exceed forty years. During this time, it can grow in height by about 3-3.5 meters.

Slightly below, the characteristics of its composition and the basic rules of cultivation will be considered.

Composition of kumquat

As befits a fruit, the kumquat is rich in a number of nutrients and vitamins. Let's consider its composition in more detail. Includes:

• essential oils: limonene, pinene, terpene;
• fiber;
• omega-3 fatty acids;
• antioxidants;
• vitamins and minerals.

Citrus is especially rich in vitamin C: one hundred grams of this fruit contains about 75% of the daily requirement of an adult, vitamin A - 5%, representatives of group B - 2%.

Kumquat also contains about 10% of the daily requirement of manganese, 6% of calcium, 4-5% of potassium and magnesium.

Product calories

Many who are interested in the question of what kind of fruit - kumquat, should knowabout its nutritional properties. So, in one hundred grams there are about 70 kcal.

Useful properties of kumquat

Having studied such a rich composition, it is not surprising that the fruit has a number of useful properties that have a beneficial effect on many systems of the human body.

1. First of all, it is worth considering the effect on the cardiovascular system. The main advantage of kumquat is that it prevents the formation of cholesterol plaques. Namely, they often become the cause of such dangerous diseases as atherosclerosis and arterial hypertension. All this becomes an excellent prevention of stroke. Therefore, the fruit is especially useful for those who are prone to problems with the heart and blood vessels.
2. The hematopoietic system also did not go unnoticed. Kumquat contributes to the normalization of the process of formation of blood cells (erythrocytes), the main function of which is to deliver oxygen to organs and tissues. This is due to the rich content in this fruit of such an element as iron.
3. Kumquat also has a beneficial effect on bone tissue, strengthening it. This becomes an excellent prevention of osteoporosis and arthritis.
4. Visual organs - due to the content of beta-carotene, oxidation in the eye cells is reduced, which helps reduce the risk of developing cataracts.
5. Respiratory system. Due to the high dosage of ascorbic acid, the severity of symptoms of acute respiratory diseases, in the form of cough and runny nose, is significantly reduced. In addition, scientists do not denymild expectorant properties of this fruit.
6. The positive effect of taking kumquat also affects the urinary system. The fact is that the fruit contains a large amount of citric acid, which prevents the formation of stones.
7. It is also useful for aging skin. The fruit is rich in antioxidants, preventing the formation of wrinkles.
8. Nervous system. The fruit contains vitamins of group B. Therefore, it has a noticeable calming effect, puts the mood in order.
9. And of course, as with any he althy product, the intake of kumquat cannot pass without a trace on the immune system. Increases the body's resistance, resistance to viruses, bacteria and fungi.

Contraindications for use

However, despite the beneficial properties of kumquat, there are a number of contraindications in which the use of the fruit is unacceptable. This list is not long, but everyone needs to get acquainted with it before tasting this little tangerine.

1. For example, kumquat is contraindicated in people with intolerance to the fruit, an allergic reaction to it or citrus fruits close to it.
2. Another contraindication is the high acidity of the stomach. It is better for such people to avoid taking kumquat, so as not to aggravate the condition of the gastrointestinal tract.
3. In addition, dried fruit is undesirable for people suffering from diabetes. The fact is that in this form kumquat is saturated with a very large amount of sugars. And this can lead to a sharp increaseblood glucose levels.

Harm of kumquat

Description of the composition of this fruit speaks solely of its benefits. However, if you pay attention to the negative impact of kumquat on the human body, then it is possible with its excessive use. This may manifest as indigestion (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea).

How to eat fruit properly?

Of course, anyone who has learned about the existence of such an unusual fruit becomes interested in how to eat a kumquat?

Firstly, it should be noted that you should not get too carried away and eat large single servings of fruit at once. You need to start with small amounts. In total, three hundred grams of this citrus per day is enough for an adult, and one hundred grams for children.

Secondly, it is equally important to know how to use the kumquat correctly. It can be done fresh, dried or whatever. The main feature of the use - kumquat does not need to be cleaned. The peel is thin and soft, in addition, sweet and he althy. If you intend to use fresh kumquat, just wash it, then cut it into slices or eat it whole.

Besides, even the juice is squeezed out of the fruit along with the pulp. The resulting liquid is consumed in its pure form or in addition to ice cream, which gives the latter an exotic taste.

Each country has its own idea of how to eat a kumquat. For example, in China, the fruit is very often crushed and dried in this form. It turns out a kind of powder that is added to teato give it a special taste. If we talk about Russia, then here most often compote is cooked from kumquat. The taste of such a drink is very rich and invigorating.

It is also possible to make jam, which will be a great treat for any feast.

What to look for when choosing fruits?

First of all, you need to carefully study the color and appearance of the peel of the mandarin kumquat. Ripe and tasty, they have an orange color, a smooth surface without dents and cracks. In this case, the fruit should not exceed four centimeters in width. By following these simple rules, you can choose the most delicious tangerine kumquat.

How to store?

Of course, it is best to eat fresh fruit, but often this is not possible. Nevertheless, this tangerine type fruit, but small, I want to keep as long as possible. How to do it right without losing the beneficial properties of the fruit?

The absolute advantage of the fruit is that it stays fresh for a long time in the refrigerator. Approximately within three weeks. The main thing to do is to wash the fruits and dry them.

Another way to preserve the benefits of fruit for a long time is to mash it and place it in the freezer. So it can be consumed within six months.

How to grow a kumquat from a stone at home?

Many botanists and flower growers are interested in growing citrus trees in an apartment or house. The kumquat is no exception. For the plant to germinate and bear fruit,you need to follow a number of rules and follow the sequence of actions.

It is necessary to use seeds from fresh fruits only. Dried or dried for these purposes will not work. The fruit must be ripe. This is easy to determine by the seed, ideally it should be dark in color. ‌

The soil should consist of an equal amount of calcined sand and river pebbles, plus it will not be superfluous to add a little humus. Of course, you can go the easier way and buy ready-made soil for citrus fruits in a flower shop.

It is better to choose a pot that is not very high, its diameter should be in the range of 8–10 cm. Drainage must be located at the bottom. As a rule, it is small gravel. Expanded clay for these purposes is also suitable.

After the soil is properly prepared, it is necessary to wash the bones in water, spread them on gauze, place a cloth on top. Better if it is cotton. After that, a small amount of water should be poured, sufficient to keep the fabrics damp. In addition, this entire structure should be placed in a warm place. In the apartment, places near the battery are perfect for this. After that, you should wait a day, but be sure to ensure that the fabric always remains wet.

Then you need to deepen a few seeds in moist soil about a couple of centimeters, close the pot with polyethylene, put in a warm place without direct sunlight. Periodically, the earth should be moderately moistened.

After one or two months, the first sprouts appear. For the gardener, this serves as a sign alto removing the plastic and placing the plant in the sun.

It is also worth remembering that this culture does not tolerate transplanting very well, so it must be done as carefully as possible.

It is equally important to water the plant on time. Kumquat loves moisture, so in the hot season it is permissible to water it every day. In winter, the frequency of watering is reduced, it is enough to do this 1-2 times a week.

Conclusion

So, the answer to the question, what kind of fruit is kumquat, has been received. It became known about its extremely useful composition, a large number of positive properties, rules for use and even cultivation.

Perhaps it is fair to say that it is desirable to use kumquat for both adults and children. After all, it has a beneficial effect on the functioning of almost all body systems.

However, it must be remembered that everything is good in moderation. Therefore, deciding to include kumquat in the diet, you can not exceed the daily allowance. Otherwise, it is fraught with some unpleasant symptoms.