• Common Name: Kumquat/Cumquat
• Family: Rutaceae
• Tribe: Citreae
• Genus: Fortunella

Kumquats or cumquats is native to China dating to the 12 century where it is mostly cultivated. It is part of Citrus family, which includes limes, oranges, and lemons. Its flesh is edible as raw due to its sweet and very juicy centre while its rind taste sour and salty.

Kumquats are perfect ingredient for all kinds of desserts, preserves, jelly, marmalade, beverages and other delicacy.

It came from a family of small bearing trees that bears edible fruit. Aside from China, it is also cultivated in Taiwan, Southeast Asia, Japan, the Middle East, Europe (somewhere in Corfu, Greece), Southern Pakistan and the USA (notably in Florida and California).They are usually slow growing trees, evergreen shrubs, or short trees and sometimes tall. The average size of the tree range from 2.4 to 4.5 meters (8 to 15ft. tall) with small thorns. It yields 80 to 100 fruits per year. How amazing it is!

The name 'kumquat' means gold orange in Chinese. As well, it derives from Cantonese "gam gwat' meaning 'come what may. According to the old Chinese belief, a ripe kumquat tree symbolizes prosperity especially at New Year.

Next time, when buying a good kumquat fruit, always choose the golden yellow to reddish orange skin. Avoid those fruits with a sign of decay in the skin.

• Meiwa Kumquat (also known as Round Kumquat, Sweet Kumquat) - It is commonly eaten as raw and cultivated for its edible fruit. The fruit can also be made into jellies and jams. They are native to China and grown in Japan. This species is introduced to the USA as an ornamental plant.

• Hong Kong Kumquat (also known as Wild Kumquat) - It is also edible about the size of a pea. It also bright orange when ripe and it also keep as an ornamental plant because of its small size. It is usually used as a houseplant and in bonzai.

• Nagami Kumquat (also known as Marumi Kumquat, Morgani Kumquat) - It is an evergreen tree. The fruit has a sweet flavor but sour in the centre. This plant also used as an ornamental plant and in bonzai. In Chinese, it is also a good luck plant.

• Fukushu Kumquat (also Jiangsu Kumquat) - It bears fruit that can be eaten raw. This fruit can also be made into jelly, jams and all kinds of dessert. It is also used as an ornamental plant but cannot stand frost.

• Polyandra Kumquat - also originated from Malaysia and mostly cultivated as ornamental plant. The oval shaped fruit is edible and can be made into drinks. It cannot tolerate frost. It is kept indoor as houseplants in colder areas. It requires full sunlight.

INGREDIENTS

• 3/4 pounds Kumquats, thinly sliced and seeds removed

• 1 cup water

• 3/4 cup granulated sugar

• 1 1/4 cups heavy cream, whipped

• 1 piece of candied ginger, finely chopped (optional)

COOKING

1. Put sliced kumquats, water and sugar in a saucepan; simmer gently until the fruit is soft. This may take 30 minutes but check occasionally.
2. Purée the fruit with the liquid and let cool.
3. Fold cream into the purée with the ginger, if used.
4. Pour into a container, cover and freeze until firm, beating twice at hourly intervals.
5. About 30 minutes before serving, transfer the ice cream to the refrigerator.

Serve decorated with twisted strips of kumquat peel and candied ginger.