Though experts believe that kumquat trees were born in China, this small funky fruit has a very mysterious origin! First appearing in Chinese literature in the 12th century AD, for a while people weren’t even sure if it belonged to the citrus family. But with its bright orange color and unmistakable sweet-and-sour citrusy taste, experts now agree that it definitely belongs to the citrus family.
Why so much confusion? There are two obvious factors that separate kumquat trees from, say, oranges. For starters, you can pop an entire kumquat into your mouth, peel and all! Plus, they’re about the size of olives.
Keep reading to find interesting posts on this strange, snack-sized fruit!
The Kumquat Tree Basics
For those of you who are still confused, let’s start with the basics of Kumquat Trees.
All About the Kumquat
Learn about the history, characteristics, cultivation, and (most importantly) eating methods of the kumquat!
Growing Kumquat Trees
Already enchanted with these sweet-and-sour fruits? Then keep reading to learn how to grow them yourself.
How to Grow Kumquat Trees
How to Grow the Oval Kumquat
How to Grow the Jiangsu Kumquat
I suggest you start out with the general growing guidelines to get an idea of what it takes to grow just about any kumquat variety. Then dive into the specifics of growing Oval kumquats and Jiangsu kumquats!
Kumquat Fertilizer
Kumquat Soil
One of the most important necessities of all plants is nutritious soil. If you’re not sure where to start, checkout my posts on the best fertilizer and soil situations for kumquats to get an idea of the kind of environment that is best for their healthy growth.
To amateur gardeners and orchardists, pruning might seem like the most nonsensical tasks. But anyone with a bit of experience will tell you that pruning is an essential aspect of your tree and plant’s health.
Kumquat Pests
Kumquat Diseases
As always, the best solution to pests and diseases is prevention. Sometimes, though, they are unavoidable, and so it’s important to know how to act in case you spot some telltale signs on your kumquat trees.
Harvesting Kumquats
Now comes one of my favorite parts about growing my very own kumquats!
As you’ll learn in the post, the most important clue to whether or not your kumquats are ready to be plucked is their look and feel (as opposed to a specific date). In the meantime, learn about the different factors that play into the kumquat harvest season.
Kumquats in the Kitchen
Now is the time for my absolute favorite part about growing my own kumquat trees—eating them, of course!
When it comes to eating other citruses, consuming them fresh is pretty straightforward. But that’s not true for the kumquat! As I mentioned early, the peel is edible, and in fact, contributes positively to the taste of the entire kumquat. So how exactly do you eat one? Read the post above to find out!
Kumquat Tree Varieties
Just like other citrus fruits, kumquat trees come in lots of different varieties. Take a look at some of my favorites:
Centennial Kumquat
Marumi Kumquat
Hong Kong Kumquat
Nordmann Kumquats
Round Kumquat
Malayan Kumquat
Fukushu Kumquat
Meiwa Kumquat
Nagami Kumquat
Eustis Limequat
Kumquat Cousins
If you like kumquats and kumquat trees, you’ll love their relations!
The Calamondin
The Indio Mandarinquat
Both the calamondin and the mandarinquat are closely related to the kumquat—in fact, they’re the kumquat’s child! Calamondins and mandarinquates both are the results of a cross between kumquats and mandarins
Kumquat Trees FAQs
Are Kumquats Oranges?
As part of the citrus family, Kumquats are in fact related to oranges. They share a similar color and taste, but as you might be able to tell from the pictures, they’re much smaller! Besides it’s size, perhaps the biggest differentiator is that you eat kumquats whole, peel and all!
Can you cook with kumquats?
Yes indeed! Though obviously not as common as their more popular citrus cousins, kumquats are featured in a wide variety of sweet and savory recipes, including as garnishes, jams, and sauces.
How do you eat kumquats?
The short answer is that you eat kumquats whole! They’re loved for their easy snacking-size. For more information on their eating method, take a look at our post, How to Eat a Kumquat.
A Funky Little Citrus
You might have noticed that we have less content on kumquat trees than we do for other fruits like apples and oranges. That’s because we’ve just gotten started gathering information on this funky little citrus, and we’re so excited to keep growing our resources.
Bookmark this page and check back often, because we’re always adding new content!
In the meantime, dive into some of my other favorite fruits:
