Dried kumquats: useful properties and contraindications.

Dried kumquats are citrus fruits. Externally, it resembles an orange, but it has edible peel and seeds. It tastes bitter, but the rind of this fruit is quite sweet.

Kumquat is a fairly small fruit with an elongated shape. It is used in cooking - it is in the composition of confectionery, spices, juices and even jams. It can be pickled, baked and canned. Dried kumquats are also very popular.

Dried kumquats are a type of dried fruit obtained by drying the fruits of shrubs of the Fortunella genus. They are a dried (under certain conditions) together with the peel of the fruit. It tastes slightly sour.

The citrus is considered to be native to South Asia. It was first mentioned in history as early as the twelfth century. It is also known that the fruit has been seen in India, Japan and even Australia. Even then, they had a very wide popularity.

Average price of kumquats in Russia

The average cost of a kumquat in Moscow is about 500 rubles per kg. It can be purchased cheaper if you buy in bulk. Then its price is about 300 rubles per kg.

Types of dried kumquats

There are many kinds of dried kumquats. They can be dried, as well as dried in whole or in sliced form. The most common type of product is candied fruit. To prepare them, the fruit is boiled in sugar syrup and then dried.

In addition, kumquats have different colors. It can be:

• yellow;
• orange;
• red;
• green.

The most common dried fruits are considered yellow and orange. Often on the shelves you can see kumquats, which have a rich color. This is because it has been impregnated with dyes. Real dried kumquats have a pale hue.

Why do dried kumquats have different colors?

Red as well as green kumquats are made by dyeing them with various chemicals to attract the attention of buyers to the product.

Composition and calories

100 g of fresh product contains:

• 1.88 g protein;
• 0.86 g fat;
• 9.4 g carbohydrates.

80% of fresh citrus consists of water.

The caloric value of kumquats depends on their shelf life and cooking method. Usually fresh and frozen fruits have the same caloric value. It is 71 kcal per 100 grams. When kumquats are dried, the caloric value rises sharply to 283 kcal per 100 g.

Per 100 g of dried product there are:

• 3.8 g protein;
• 0 g fat;
• 80.1 g of carbohydrates.

These data are relevant in relation to those products that do not contain sugar. If it is present in the composition of the product, the caloric value of the product increases.

Kumquat fruits are valuable because they contain a fairly large list of vitamins, various minerals, essential oils and amino acids, which are necessary in the fight against diseases. Kumquat is especially useful for colds, as it, like all citrus fruits, is enriched with vitamin C.

Useful properties of dried kumquats

General benefits

Today, kumquat can be classified as one of the most useful products. In some countries, it is used in the treatment of diseases and for their prevention. It has a number of beneficial properties for the human body.

1. In dried kumquat you can find a huge number of vitamins that will be useful for the prevention of colds and viral diseases. This is especially true of vitamin C, which boosts the immune system. Making tea with dried rind or inhalation, you can say goodbye to colds. Tincture based on kumquat and honey easily gets rid of coughs.
2. Potassium, which is also present in kumquat, helps people who suffer from disorders of the cardiovascular system. It is constantly entering the human body, strengthens the walls of blood vessels, making them more elastic, normalizes cholesterol. Kumquat useful for people suffering from high or low blood pressure.
3. The fruit is used to treat foot fungus and inflammatory diseases. In general, kumquat carries a lot of vitamins for the human body.
4. An interesting fact is that this dried fruit is an indispensable assistant in the fight against hangover. After chewing the fruit, a person forgets about his bad feeling.
5. The kumquat solves problems with the digestive system, improving the intestinal microflora and helping to get rid of prolonged constipation. This is explained by the fact that there are about 10 g of fiber in 8 fruits. In addition, it normalizes metabolic processes.
6. The fruit improves brain function, thereby helping to accelerate mental activity.
7. Dried kumquats can be effective in eliminating depression and fatigue.
8. Kumquat is excellent for cancer prevention. Vitamins A, C and E protect the body from free radicals that damage cell DNA.
9. The product helps reduce the development of kidney stones. This is a consequence of the fact that kumquat has a very high concentration of citric acid.
10. Dried fruits provide bone strength due to the presence of calcium. The greater the reserve of calcium in the human body, the faster the bones recover in adulthood.
11. Fruits help maintain the beauty and health of the skin. Various antioxidants and vitamins protect the skin from the sun and other harmful influences. Regular consumption helps to slow down the appearance of wrinkles, spots. In addition, kumquat is a good helper in the fight against dry skin. It helps to moisturize it.
12. Kumquat preserves the beauty of teeth and hair. This is due to the presence in its composition of a large number of minerals that affect the quality, structure and strength of the hair. Vitamin C, calcium and potassium are responsible for dental health. They protect the oral cavity from infections and make the teeth stronger.
13. The citrus fruit is very useful for eyesight. The beta-carotene present in this product slows down the oxidative process in the cells. As a result, the risk of cataracts decreases.

Fact! Dried kumquats have the same list of health benefits as fresh kumquats. Its advantage is that it is in dried form that it keeps longer.

For women

In the life of women, this fruit plays an important role. It is to them kumquat brings the greatest benefits, namely:

• helps in combating irritability and nervousness;
• speeds up the metabolism, thereby being effective in losing weight;
• helps to solve problems with the condition of the skin, hair and nails;
• It does an excellent job of preventing thrush;
• Slows down the aging process.

For men

Kumquat has the same benefits for the male body as for the female one. But to this list is added the fact that the fruit improves potency in men.

In pregnancy.

Because of its high content of vitamins and minerals, it copes with toxicosis. In addition, for pregnant women kumquat is useful in that it prevents the development of varicose veins. But the use of kumquat should be limited in the last trimester, so that the baby does not develop an allergy. In addition, for pregnant women kumquat is useful because it prevents the development of varicose veins.

Consumption of these dried fruits in moderate quantities, according to nutritionists, will only benefit the body of the future mother.

When breastfeeding

Despite the fact that kumquat is quite useful product, it is better to refuse to eat it while breastfeeding. This should be done to avoid the baby developing allergies, diathesis or gastrointestinal disorders.

For children

Children under 3 years of age are strictly forbidden to eat kumquats in any form. By the age of five or six, a child can eat 4-5 fruits a day, but this is only possible in the absence of allergies.

When losing weight

Kumquat is an effective dietary product, as it is low-calorie. It can be introduced in absolutely any diet. It helps to fight:

• with slow metabolism;
• Excess water in the body and harmful substances;
• hunger.

You can lose excess weight with its help in a couple of weeks. You should just remove from your diet flour, sweets and fatty foods. In the first week, you can already lose 4-5 pounds if you include this product in the dishes you eat.

Using it in cooking

The kumquat fruit has found its use in Southeast Asian cuisine, and is now gaining popularity in other countries as well. Dried kumquats are used less frequently than fresh kumquats.

Kumquats can be added to a variety of salads, both fresh and dried. It is included in the most unusual confections and snacks. These include marmalades, jellies, candied fruits, and ice cream. It is also thought to be added to mashed potatoes. It will add some uniqueness and interesting taste to the dish. The fruit has also found its use in decorating gourmet dishes and cocktails.

This citrus goes through the process of saccharification, alcoholization and drying. It makes very tasty sweets, which confectioners prefer to pour chocolate icing, sweet souffles, candied fruits, casseroles. The list of sweets is endless.

Interestingly, kumquats are also used in making a variety of sauces for meat, fish, and vegetables. Most often such sauces are used for baking or stewing. They add a sour-sweet flavor to the dish. The combination of kumquats with meat, fish and vegetables is incomparable. It is very tasty! This fruit adds freshness and sophistication to various dishes. An important advantage of kumquats can be called the fact that they retain all their useful properties when cooked.

Very often on the basis of kumquat make various alcoholic beverages: tinctures, liquor, cocktails.

Popular kumquat recipes

Cheese casserole with kumquats

First you need to prepare all the ingredients. These are:

• cottage cheese - 600 g;
• egg - 2 pcs;
• butter - 10 grams;
• semolina - 80 gr;
• vanilla sugar;
• sugar - 100 gr;
• milk - 10 ml;
• kumquat - 150 g.

Process:

1. To begin, mash the cottage cheese with the eggs. In the resulting mixture, add semolina and milk. All mix well.
2. After obtaining a homogeneous consistency, add the kumquats, vanilla sugar and gradually flour. Mix everything into an even mass.
3. Pour the resulting batter into a mold and send it to the preheated oven for half an hour. Done!
4. Wait until the casserole cools and sprinkle powdered sugar on top before serving.

Chicken with kumquats in cream sauce

Ingredients include:

• orange - 1 pc;
• kumquat - 100 g;
• fillet - 700 gr;
• turmeric - 0,5 tsp;
• vegetable oil
• paprika - 0.5 tsp;
• cream - 250 ml;
• garlic - 1 clove;
• rum - 100 ml;
• salt, pepper.

Preparation:

1. Wash chicken fillets and dry with kitchen towels.
2. Heat a frying pan with sunflower oil. Put the chicken on it. Add salt, pepper. Fry over low heat.
3. Wash kumquat in hot water, cut it into slices. Peel the skin is not necessary.
4. The next step is to chop the garlic and add it to the meat.
5. Pour orange juice into the pan, add paprika and turmeric.
6. Lastly add the cream. Stir the mixture. Braise for another 5 minutes. Preferably served with rice or potatoes.

Kumquat jam

Ingredients:

• Kumquat - 0,5 kg.
• Sugar - 250 grams.
• Water - 50 ml.

Boil the jam should be three times 5 minutes each.

Process:

1. Select the kumquat fruits and pour them into a deep bowl to rinse thoroughly. Cut each fruit into 4 parts, remove the seeds. Then pour them into a cauldron. In case you do not have a cauldron, you can use an ordinary pot.
2. Pour sugar on top of the fruit. In this mixture, pour water, gently stir everything and put the cauldron on the stove.
3. Boil it until it comes to a boil, then turn down the heat. Leave it on low heat for about 5 minutes. Then turn off the stove and cool the mixture for 1 hour.
4. Then heat it again and simmer for 5 minutes, then cool again and wait 1 hour.
5. The final step is to heat the mixture a third time. After which the kumquat pieces will already be transparent, and the volume of syrup will decrease.

Salad with kumquats, arugula and asparagus

Components:

• kumquats - 150 g;
• fillet - 50 g;
• olive oil - 1 tbsp;
• ground black pepper;
• arugula - 1 bunch;
• salt;
• Asparagus green - 200 gr;
• orange - 1 pc;
• Balsamic cream sauce - 1 tsp;
• mustard - 1 tsp;
• honey - 2 tbsp;
• soy sauce - 2 tbsp.

Process:

1. Prepare all products. Rub the chicken fillet with salt and pepper. Then bake it in the oven for about 30 minutes at 200°C.
2. While it is baking prepare the dressing. Mix honey, mustard, soy sauce and balsamic. Squeeze out the juice of an orange.
3. Wash asparagus and pat dry with kitchen towel and cut into 2-3 pieces. Cut the kumquats into thin rings.
4. Saute asparagus in olive oil for about 4-5 minutes. Fry kumquats in the same pan. Add orange juice.
5. Cook over low heat for 5-7 minutes.
6. After the chicken is cooked, cut it into small pieces. Serve with arugula.
7. Put kumquats on top and pour everything hot sauce from the pan. It is desirable to serve the salad warm.

Hazards and contraindications

The kumquat belongs to the exotic fruits. That is why its consumption in large quantities can lead to not very good consequences.

Important to know:

1. Kumquat is an allergen. In the presence of allergic reactions, the citrus should be introduced into the diet gradually, controlling the reaction of the body.
2. Not consumed before, the product for pregnant and nursing mothers is harmful. It can cause diathesis and allergies in a child.
3. Kumquat is especially dangerous for people with high acidity of gastric juice.
4. The presence of inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, such as ulcers or gastritis, indicates that you should refrain from this product. Irritation of the lining of the digestive organs may occur.
5. Kumquat is especially dangerous in the presence of inflammation of the genitourinary system. It can worsen the situation.
6. People prone to gaining excess weight and diabetics are contraindicated this product in dried form, as it is quite caloric.

How to choose and store

Citrus is sold in various supermarkets, in the department of exotic fruits. In the store, when buying kumquat, you should pay attention to its appearance.

1. The fruit should not have dents, cracks, various spots and damage of other kinds.
2. A brightly colored fruit indicates that it has been stained with various chemicals. A true kumquat has a pale color.
3. The fruit should not be too hard to the touch. This could be an indication that the product is probably not mature enough.
4. Also, you should not choose a fruit that is too soft. This is because it is likely to be overripe or even spoiled.

Fresh kumquat fruit is stored in the refrigerator for 7-14 days, at room temperature - a little less, namely 3-4 days. Can also be stored frozen. Frozen kumquat puree is stored for up to 6 months. In dried form, the shelf life of the product increases significantly up to 2 months.

How to dry kumquats

You can also dry kumquats at home. Of course, you can buy it in the store, but isn't it more interesting to cook it yourself? In this case, you will not have to doubt the quality of kumquats and their usefulness. By the way, often together with this citrus also dried lemons. It turns out a very tasty product, which can be stored for a long time and enjoyed for a whole winter.

To prepare dried kumquats at home, you can follow our recommendations below:

1. First, prepare all the necessary products, namely kumquats. It is necessary to take the amount of citrus fruit that is planned to be dried. You should not take too many fruits, as they can spoil. Wash and cut them into four pieces.
2. The next step is to place the fruit in the electric dryer. An important condition is that the electric dryer must be absolutely clean, it must not have any foreign odors, otherwise they can be absorbed into the kumquats. Place the kumquats so that there is a small space between them.
3. Turn on the dryer. Set the temperature to 135°C. Dry the kumquats for 6 hours. The fruit will shrink in size and become drier.
4. After drying, place in bags. Store dried kumquats in a dry, dark place for about two months, no more.

How to grow kumquats at home

There are not many nuances in growing kumquats, especially if you have experience in caring for other citrus fruits. The technique is very similar to growing lemon and mandarin.

Where to place the seedling

The plant likes sunlight, but you should not place the seedling under the scorching sun. A good option would be a windowsill. In summer you can safely take the plant outdoors, but only in places that are not exposed to the rays of the daylight.

Temperature and humidity

1. Kumquats prefer warm weather. The ideal temperature for the plant to grow normally is 18 to 20 °C. If the plant is already grown it needs to be raised to 23°C.
2. In winter the plant should be in a cool environment.
3. Kumquat likes humid air. It is worth additionally humidifying it if it is dry enough. Otherwise, the kumquat begins to die in dry air.

Interesting facts about kumquats

1. Kumquat tastes like a sour tangerine.
2. It is eaten together with the peel, as it is the sweetest. In China they call it the golden apple, while in Japan it is called the golden mandarin.
3. The fruit is characterized by the presence of a huge amount of essential oils in its composition. That is why the fruit smells very delicious.
4. The size of the fruit is very small for the citrus family.
5. Kumquats can be consumed in absolutely any form, both fresh and processed.
6. Kumquat creates a good mood, having a beneficial effect on the nervous system.
7. The fruit solves memory problems. It activates the activity of the brain.
8. Kumquat promotes weight loss and is an indispensable product in the diet of diabetics.
9. Citrus eliminates all symptoms of hangover. In China, after various celebrations, kumquat is necessarily treated the next day. It is enough to eat 3-4 pieces to eliminate bad feeling.

Photo of dried kumquats