Kumquat

Kumquats are the smallest of the commonly eaten citrus fruits, roughly the size and shape of a large olive. Unlike other citrus, the thin rind is the sweetest part, while the juicy interior is bracingly tart — and the whole fruit is eaten together, skin included. This contrast of sweet and sour in a single bite makes them quite distinctive.

They can be eaten fresh as a snack, sliced into salads, or used in marmalades, chutneys, and syrups. Kumquats also make excellent preserves and candied fruit, and they pair well with rich meats like duck and pork. Their ornamental appearance makes them a popular garnish.

Kumquat trees grow well in Australian gardens, particularly in warmer and temperate climates, and the fruit is available seasonally at greengrocers and farmers’ markets through the cooler months.

Farmed
photograph to come — from twenty years of markets, farms and kitchens

How it's made

Kumquats are grown on small, hardy evergreen trees that produce fruit through autumn and winter. The ripe fruit is picked by hand from the tree when it reaches full colour — a deep orange to golden yellow. Since the entire fruit is eaten including the skin, kumquats are simply washed after harvest and sold fresh with minimal processing.

Nutrition (per 100g)

Energy 71kcal
Protein 1.9g
Carbs 9.4g
Fat 0.9g
Fibre 6.5g Sugar 9.4g
Mass Distribution

1 fruit without refuse is about 19 g — roughly 10 kcal of this.

What it costs the planet (per kilo)

Carbon 0.58kg
Freshwater 10.9L
Land 26.4

Where it comes from

In the kitchen

Used as

tangy citrus accent

Goes well with
duck ginger honey chocolate fennel
Classic dishes
  • Kumquat Marmalade
  • Duck with Kumquats
  • Candied Kumquats

Keeping it

In the fridge: about 21 days.

Advice from Cubud’s own keeping notes — how to keep it, not a measured number.

Keeping one at home? Track yours in your cubud →

Where this data comes from

Nutrition data from

USDA

How it was calculated

SR Legacy

Full credits, licences, and methods: the sources page →

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