The citrus They are a nutritional gem. Perhaps the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about them is their richness in vitamin Cwhich makes them great allies against colds because they boost our immune system. But they also contain fiber, flavonoids or citric acidwith various health benefits.
Orange, lemon and tangerine are among the best-known citrus fruits.but they are not the only ones. He kumquata small fruit similar to a dwarf orange, is perhaps the most exotic member of this family and also has many interesting properties.
What is kumquat or kumquat?
He kumquat It is a shrub native to China and Indochina, from the citrus family, which produces a small orange fruit that is usually called “chinese oranges”.
These little ones oval fruits with orange skinsimilar in size to a date, have a delicious sweet and slightly acidic flavorsimilar to that of some varieties of mandarins.
The fruit appears at the beginning of autumn and matures towards the end of autumn or beginning of winter, so it has a season of several months and can be found in the markets from November to March.
There are two main varieties of kumquats:
- Nagami, the most common oval variety.
- Meiwa, a little bigger and rounder.
Properties and benefits of kumquat
Kumquat is very rich in vitamin Cwhich helps strengthen the immune system and may be useful in prevention of colds or other respiratory infections.
Vitamin C too intervenes in collagen synthesis (important for the good condition of connective tissue) and improves the absorption of minerals such as iron and zinc. Furthermore, his powerful antioxidant action protects against damage caused by free radicals.
with so just four kumquats you will get the all the vitamin C you need per day.
Also contribute flavonoidswhich exert an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect that can help protect against cardiovascular diseases.
On the other hand, the phytosterols present in kumquat have a chemical structure similar to cholesterol, which can help block cholesterol absorption in the body.
Provides abundant fiber, 6.5% of its weightkey to digestive health and the prevention of constipation. It also makes it satiating and this, added to its water content since it does not contain too many calories, makes kumquat an ideal food for those people who want to control their weight or looking to lose a few pounds.
Kumquats, like other citrus fruits, contain citric acida natural preservative with disinfectant properties responsible for the characteristic citrus flavor.
How to eat kumquat
One of the advantages of kumquat is that, unlike other citrus fruits, the skin is ediblewhich allows you to take better advantage of the large amount of fiber that this small fruit brings. In fact, the skin is thin, aromatic and sweet, even more so than the pulp. You can eat it fresh, whole or cut into slicesYou just have to wash it well before.
It’s a fruit widely used in baking and in the preparation of jams and jamsand can also be used in a multitude of recipes: salads, ceviches, tartares, chutney-type sauces…
Growing kumquat: pot care
The kumquat plant, in addition to producing delicious fruits, It is very ornamental thanks to the aroma and beauty of its flowers and fruits.and you can grow it on your balcony or terrace in a pot.
It tolerates the cold quite well, but needs a lot of sun. and the soil must always be moist (although not waterlogged). However, if the temperatures drop much below 0 in winter you can protect it indoors.
Make sure the pot and soil have good drainage and water it when you notice that the soil on top is dry.
If you want to prune it To maintain its shape, you should do it after harvesting the fruit and before the flowering season.
Check it often to detect and stop any pests, such as aphids or mites, early.