Q&A for How to Eat a Kumquat

Yes, the skin of a kumquat is both edible and tasty so don't bother trying to remove it.

No, loquats and kumquats are not the same, and the trees that produce them are not related. Loquats are a fruit that tastes something between an apricot, plum and cherry while kumquats are a small variety of citrus fruit.

Yes, the entire fruit is edible. I'd suggest chewing the fruit, though, instead of swallowing it whole.

Yes, they will sometimes have a mildly bitter taste, particularly if they are not fully ripe.

Yes, the peel is the sweet part.

If it has been grown from the seed, then it will take 10 years for the tree to flower. When growing citrus fruit, time is key, and it may not be mature enough. Also, try verifying that it is actually a kumquat tree. If it is potted and light enough to transport, you can bring it over to local nurseries that you know have knowledge on growing kumquat trees. They may also help to identify an underlying, unseen disease in your tree. Hope this helps!

I would recommend reading through wikiHow's article on making jam for some guidance.

No, there isn't. A kumquat fruit is healthy.

There isn't a real way to sweeten a kumquat, but there are a couple ways to avoid its bitter taste. Slice the fruit in half and squeeze out the sour juice. Then, just pop it into our mouth and eat it. Or, slice the Kumquat in half and coat it in sugar. The sugar will help the Kumquat flesh's tangy flavor.

In the fresh produce section. Sometimes stores have an exotic fruit area where they might be located as well. If your local grocery does not have them, try a farmer's market or international grocery.

A kumquat has approximately 71 calories.

No, but they are cousins to oranges. You can actually eat the skin of kumquats.

You could purchase a tree from a nursery; however, it could be a decade after planting before it produces abundant fruit.

Ablos is the only place they will ever grow. They thrive in the snow; look for them next to train tracks, too.

It's always kumquat season. Since they thrive in many climates, you can pretty much grow them and purchase them at any time of year.

Outside in the lower areas of Arizona, they thrive. We planted ours from a small, young tree bought at a specialized citrus nursery. It bears a lot of fruit, not all at once, which is nice.

It could grow. You need dry weather. If you grow it inside of a container it also needs water.

Most grocery stores should sell kumquats, but if you have difficulty finding them, you could try a store that specializes in fresh produce.

They are healthy, so you can't really eat too many. I'd say about 10-15 per day.

These are most likely Japanese kumquats, called anata ni damasa (あなたにだまさ) in Japan.

You can eat as many as you'd like, there is no specified number. However, just like any citrus or acidic fruit, the acids in it will wear down the enamel in your teeth, leaving you more prone to cavities, so limit yourself to 1-7 a day.

Yes, but they are not very tasty. Most people do not eat them.

Kumquats are in the citrus family; they are related to grapefruits and oranges. So technically, yes you could.

Sugar is sugar, regardless of where it comes from. Sugar from fruit is metabolized exactly the same as cane sugar, honey, etc.

Yes, you can add them to cake for flavoring.

You can add a little sugar, or honey if you don't want sugar. Since kumquats are acidic, it'll make a chemical reaction with soda, causing the salty taste.

Some local supermarkets have them for sale in the produce section in the late fall. I have seen them just before Thanksgiving and during the Christmas holidays.

Yes, you can, but it will be very sour if you don't add sugar. There are 4 main species of kumquat, and Meiwa kumquats are the least tart. They do well when mixed with other fruit.

As many as you want. See what amount works best for you!

Yes! A persimmon is a similar fruit and it tastes exactly like the sweet and exotic skin of the kumquat.