Kumquat

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Name Variations

 * Cumquat

About Kumquat
Kumquat trees are native to, and prevalent in, Asia, specifically in China and Indochina, they are also cultivated in Japan and in the United States, in warmer states such as California and Florida. Although many kumquat trees are grown for their sweet, edible fruits, they are also used as ornamental plants because of their attractive, shiny leaves and delicate white flowers that bloom in the summer. The kumquat tree produces small, edible fruits that look similar to oranges. These fruits are extremely juicy and tasty and usually have a sweet outer skin accompanied by a tart, inner flesh. You can easily identify a kumquat by its bright skin color, which is either orange or yellow. Fresh kumquats can be eaten raw, but for preserving, they should be left until they lose some of their moisture and acquire richer flavor. The fruits are easily preserved whole in sugar syrup. Canned kumquats are exported from Taiwan and often served as dessert in Chinese restaurants. Kumquat sauce is made by cooking chopped, seeded fruits with honey, orange juice, salt and butter. Kumquats are diverse fruits that also offer many nutritional benefits. They are cholesterol, fat, and sodium free and provide a good source of fiber and of the vitamins A and C.