November 3rd
2005
Mini Kiwis
Introducing a new category covering mostly new finds in the culinary world, I thought these two beauties might be an apt start. We found the mini Kiwis on our regular Saturday morning stroll across the Viktualienmarkt in Munich - well, to be honest we sort of got talked into them, but don't regret a bit to have purchased a whole box. In fact they were all gone before noon. Originally we thought they might be a variety of gooseberries, but the stand owner explained that those were Austrian mini Kiwis, so much sweeter in flavor than their larger relatives and need not to be peeled - just wash them and pop them straight into your mouth. Perfect “finger food”-style fruits! Did I mention that...yeah I think I did, they were gone before noon...
When I searched the net afterwards, I realized, that food bloggers are always ahead of time, so to speak, because you can also read about those cute little discoveries here.
Pomelo Tangerines
Literally a stone throw away from where we found the mini Kiwis, we stumbled on these: A pomelo-tangerine cross, I just can't recall their exact name! And no luck searching the web... Their flesh is compact (more so than from a tangerine), they can easily be peeled, but we prefered to eat them like a grapefruit (with a spoon), because their skin is somewhat thick. Very juicy and the bright orange flesh is pure eye candy. Taste-wise probably more tangerine than pomelo. Sweet and sour at the same time (does that make any sense?), but not as sour as their green skin would presume. In fact, the only overly green fruit we got was the sweetest of the whole bunch... I guess I can’t trust in my previous color & taste-experiences...just adapted it to "green citrus fruits are not always sour"... :)
I found mini kiwis here in California, earlier this year, at Costco of all places. I loved them - they didn't have that weird aftertaste that full-size kiwis have.
These little oranges are so in season right now in Italy and they are very nice, supple and sweet and totally yummy.
Both fruits look delicious. I bet they taste great too.
Frieda's, a specialty produce company in the US, was marketing mini-kiwis for a while. In Paris, last week I saw something called 'Kiawi's, which kinda looked like little kiwis, but were dark and hard-looking (ne touchez pas!) and were expensive, so I passed. Now I wonder if they're the same thing. GRrr.. I guess I'll have to try 'em.
The grapefruit is a hybrid cross between a pomelo and an orange, and I'm pretty sure as well that the Minneola Tangelo is the love-child of a grapefruit and a tangerine. (You can tell is you have Tangelos, which often has a bumpy knob-like protrusion on the stem end.) Sunset has a great book on citrus fruits, but my copy is packed in a dark storage locker...
I've never seen mini kiwis. I be they taste great. I love learning about new and unusual foods. keep it up!
What vibrant colours! Mini kiwis are known as "kiwiberries" in the Niagara Region of Ontario, Canada (I cannot speak for the rest of the country). Some local farms have started producing them, but they are reasonably new to the market. I adore them - they are simply gorgeous, aren't they?
those pomelo tangerines are beautiful! i've never seen them around here (northeast US).
Sonntagslektüre, 06.11.05
Der wöchentliche Lesetipp ist diesmal besonders lecker. Auf Delicious Days bloggen seit März 2005 zwei Münchner (auf Englisch) über gutes Essen. Die Site sieht nicht nur gut aus, sondern bietet auch immer wieder Rezepte, die mit tollen Fotos bebi...
I'm so jealous that you are able to stumble upon such gorgeous fruits. Sure can't do that in Los Angeles!
I'm heading over the the Viktualienmarkt today -- will have to look for those mini kiwis!
Are mini kiwis just gooseberries with a marketing budget or a distinct fruit?
Your Pomelo Tangerine is known in Italy under the name Mapo. It's a kind of hybrid between mandarins and grapefruit and they are really delicious. In Sicily they use this fruit for a Limoncello-type liquer called "Mapo Mapo" (very original name) which is sooo wonderful!
Edwin,
Still not sure on the name. I think I need to go back to where we bought them and find out...
Sheri,
That's what I liked most about them, too. There is another Kiwi type, which has more of a light brown/yellow'ish skin (golden kiwis?), this one is also much milder in taste.
David,
Did you ever find out whether the French 'Kiawi's are indeed similar to the ones we found?
Dianka,
You sure? I bet there must be a local market somewhere that offers these kind of fruits and more... Keep my fingers crossed for you!
Anonymous,
Their taste and the fruit's inside has nothing in common with gooseberries; although they do taste like the big ones, they are milder (less acidity) and richer - if that makes sense ;)
Nancy,
Never heard of Mapo Mapo, but chilled ice cold I could very much imagine it to be a great after dessert drink.
looking to buy mini kiwis in Paris. Do y know where they can be purchased or where one can order them from?
Thank y
Theresa
I'm in love with this wonderful blog! Many thanks guys!!
Did you mean Minneola's? They are indeed a great citrus variety. Alas, lately I am not able to find really juicy ones in Amsterdam (Netherlands). Maybe it is not really the season and I should go for real winterfruit like Gieser Wilderman pears?
Those kiwi's sound interesting. I will most certainly go and ask for them on the market this Saturday :)