Among the numerous dried fruits you can find orange candied fruits with the exotic name kumquat. What are the benefits of such candied fruit? How to choose and use it correctly? Find answers to all questions in our material.

What it is?

Dried kumquat is a popular dried fruit that is made from small fruits. The fruit itself is a citrus fruit. This is a small, elongated fruit that somewhat resembles the familiar plum. This dried fruit can often be found under another name. For example, “Chinese mandarin”, “kinkan”, “fortunella” or “Japanese orange”. The fruit is very common in China, Japan, Australia, South America and many countries in Southeast Asia.



The ripe fruit has a thick, bright orange peel. But it has very little pulp. The aroma of the fruit is reminiscent of lime, and the taste is a little like tangerine. The peel of this fruit is pleasant to the taste, sweet, but the pulp has a slight sourness or bitterness. For this reason, it is customary to eat the whole fruit, including the peel. An interesting fact is that this is practically the only citrus fruit whose peel is edible. Kumquat is eaten fresh, used in the preparation of various dishes and drinks, and candied fruits are made.

Candied fruits are made from the whole fruit, that is, the whole fruit is dried together with the peel. You can often find all kinds of hybrids. This is a kumquat crossed with a lime, orange, tangerine or other citrus fruit. Such hybrids differ in taste and skin color. As a rule, these candied fruits are made from the whole fruit, but it happens that it is cut into circles before drying.

Candied fruits are made in the following way - the fruits are boiled in pre-prepared syrup and then dried. Often a small amount of baking soda is added to this syrup. If manufacturers follow a certain technology and do not violate the rules of drying, then candied fruits retain almost all their vitamins and beneficial properties. Infrared drying of fruits is considered the best.



Why different colors?

Today in stores you can find not only orange or yellow kumquat, but also red and even green. When choosing quality dried fruits, be sure to pay attention to their color. In nature, there are no fruits that are bright red or green. Therefore, real candied fruits should be orange, yellow or pale red. In other variants, this indicates that various kinds of dyes were added during the production of dried fruits, which is why bright candied fruits of various colors are obtained.

Choosing kumquats in the form of candied fruits, Do not take dried fruits of too bright colors, even orange. The natural color of such a product should have a paler shade. If there are white dots or stripes on the surface of the candied fruit, this indicates that the fruit was treated with some harmful substance during drying.

A good dried candied fruit has a delicate citrus aroma, but if there is a chemical smell, then it is better to refuse such a purchase.


Composition and calorie content

Like most citrus fruits, kumquat is a low-calorie product. Fresh fruit contains only 70 kilocalories per 100 grams. But only fresh fruit can boast such a low calorie content. Dried fruits and candied fruits are high in calories. The candied sunny fruit contains more than 280 kilocalories per 100 grams of product. As for the BJU of this dried citrus fruit, it contains 9.4 grams of carbohydrates, 1.88 grams of protein, and 1.86 grams of fat.

This dried fruit contains a huge amount of various vitamins, minerals and other beneficial substances. For example, these candied fruits contain a large amount of vitamin C. There are also vitamins A, group B, E and PP. In addition, kumquat contains potassium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, various antioxidants, pectin, essential oils and other beneficial substances.



Benefit

Good quality candied fruits, which were prepared from fresh and ripe fruits, without the use of dyes and other harmful substances, are beneficial. What are the beneficial properties of dried citrus fruit? Thanks to the numerous vitamins and minerals that candied fruits contain, this product is able to enrich the body with various beneficial substances, helping to fight vitamin deficiency.

Since this dried fruit contains a large amount of ascorbic acid (several times more than in regular lemon), its regular consumption helps strengthen the immune system and is an excellent preventive measure against seasonal colds.

The fruit contains other useful substances that help not only strengthen the immune system, but also fight inflammatory processes in the body, and also promote a speedy recovery during viral diseases.


In addition, this dried fruit has a positive effect on the functioning of the stomach and intestines, normalizing many processes in the body. Regular consumption of kumquat improves the secretion of gastric juice and is an excellent preventative against gastritis and ulcers.

Thanks to this dried fruit, intestinal function improves and problems such as constipation disappear. The body is cleansed of harmful toxins and waste. Metabolism in the body is also accelerated and normalized. And all this is due to the fact that kumquat contains a large amount of dietary fiber.

Thanks to some vitamins, namely group B, consuming kumquat has a positive effect on the functioning of our nervous system. Candied fruits help fight stress, have a calming effect on the body, relieve excessive excitability and irritability, help control aggression and not fall into depression. Eating candied fruits is recommended for those who have recently experienced a stressful situation. The beneficial elements of the dried fruit will help overcome bad mood and protect you from the harmful effects of stress.



The bright and tasty dried fruit has another amazing ability - it removes heavy metal salts, various toxins from the body and reduces the level of bad cholesterol. For this reason, kumquat is indicated for those who live in an environmentally unfavorable area and whose lifestyle is not healthy. Ridding the body of everything bad, kumquat also saturates it with useful vitamins, helping it to improve its health. And thanks to potassium, this type of candied fruit has a positive effect on the functioning of the cardiovascular system, preventing the occurrence of many diseases. The product is an excellent preventative against atherosclerosis.

Any dried fruits have some contraindications that should definitely be taken into account. Since kumquat is a citrus fruit, an allergic reaction may occur after consuming it. Under no circumstances should those who are allergic to citrus fruits or have an individual intolerance to the product be allowed to eat such candied fruits.

You should not eat such dried fruits during pregnancy. You should not eat them during breastfeeding, as this can cause allergies in your newborn baby. Children under three years of age are also not recommended to use this product. In case of severe diseases of the stomach and kidneys, you should not include such candied fruits in your diet. In addition, people suffering from obesity and diabetes should not consume these fruits in dried form.

You shouldn't overuse candied fruits either. Firstly, it can cause some disturbances in the intestines and more. Secondly, since dried kumquat is very high in calories, this will have a detrimental effect on your slimness and overall health. Remember that the recommended amount is seven to eight dried fruits per day.



Dried exotic kumquat can be consumed independently, as it is rich in vitamins and other useful elements. But if it is eaten together with other dried fruits, the benefits will increase several times. For example, these candied fruits are recommended to be consumed together with dried apricots or prunes. This combination of dried fruits helps to activate the functioning of our brain, increases concentration and attention, and improves memory. This combination of products is recommended for use by schoolchildren, students and mental workers.

It is also recommended to consume these candied fruits with honey. To do this, you can make your own honey mixture with kumquat at home and use it in the winter as a preventative against colds and strengthening the immune system. Take literally ten dried fruits and make cross cuts on them. Place candied fruits in a glass container. Add pre-peeled ginger root, cut into circles. You will need literally thirty grams of it. Pour liquid honey over everything on top. For this proportion, four hundred milligrams will be enough. Close the container with a tight lid, shake and put in the refrigerator for two months.

If you have spent several hours in a row at the computer and are experiencing severe eye fatigue, discomfort, etc., then it will be enough to eat three or four dried kumquats - you will feel better within an hour. Dried exotic fruits can be safely added to various baked goods, curd masses or homemade yoghurts. For example, you get very tasty pumpkin muffins with candied citrus fruits. You can make compote from kumquat or make a spicy sauce for fish. You can also add a few dried fruits while brewing tea to get a tasty and aromatic drink.

Candied fruits are also used in cosmetology. For example, if you pour warm water over the fruits and let them brew for two hours, you will end up with an excellent tonic tincture. You can wipe your face with this liquid, which will help improve its color and restore elasticity to the skin.

In the next video, Elena Malysheva will tell you about the benefits of candied fruits.

In fact, it is a separate species.
In the East he is held in special esteem. But like other citrus fruits, kumquat combines beneficial properties with limitations.

Kumquat is a citrus plant. There are six varieties plus hybrids.

History and origin of the fruit

The kumquat fruit was introduced to Europeans by Portuguese sailors at the beginning of the 19th century. In 1846, the overseas curiosity was described and brought from the continent to England by the Scottish botanist, member of the London Horticultural Society, Robert Fortune. This genus of citrus fruit, Fortunello, was named after him.
The plant has other names: in Cantonese (a dialect of the Chinese language) - kumquat, in the Japanese version - kinkan. Both mean "golden orange".

What it looks like and where it grows

Kumquat is a tree three to four meters tall. With fruits it resembles a New Year tree strewn with tangerines. The homeland is considered to be the Hindustan Peninsula, the southern provinces of China, and Japan. That is why citrus is known in the world as “Chinese orange”, “Japanese orange”. Today it is cultivated in the tropics and subtropics throughout the planet, from Florida to the Mediterranean.

Only color and structure unite kumquat with the usual orange. Other parameters differ:

  • fruits are oval, large (up to 5 cm long, 3-3.5 cm in diameter, weighing up to 30 g);
  • the thick, sweet skin is edible; the sweetest is the wild variety from Hong Kong;
  • a little pulp;
  • the number of grains coincides with the number of segments (usually four to seven);
  • different varieties have different colors - from light yellow to deep orange.

Dried kumquat resembles dried tangerines. The color scheme is the same as natural, only paler. Red occurs in chemically treated specimens that are not beneficial.
When analyzing what a fruit tastes like, most people call it sweet. That is, the kumquat is sweet with sourness, slightly bitter.

Calorie content and composition

The benefits of the fruit are due to its saturation with vitamins and minerals. It is considered dietary, but the calorie content of kumquat in sugar is prohibitive.

Calories

Energy value of the product (g/100 g):

  • proteins – 1.8-1.9;
  • fats – 0.92-1.15;
  • carbohydrates – 9.4

Fresh kumquat specimens have a calorie content of 70-75 kcal per 100 grams. Dried or dried “richer” – 270-280. Candied fruits cooked from kumquat have a calorie content four to five times higher - 320-330 units.

Minerals and vitamins

Four-fifths of each fruit is water. The main benefits come from vitamins plus minerals.
The vitamin list opens with ascorbic acid - almost half of the total composition. It is supplemented by A, E, group B (3, 5), R.
Microelements, minerals:

  • potassium;
  • calcium;
  • sodium;
  • magnesium;
  • iron;
  • zinc;
  • copper;
  • molybdenum.

The value of the fruit is added by fatty acids (saturated, unsaturated, polyunsaturated), essential oils, monosaccharides, lutein, pectin.

Uniqueness

This is the smallest citrus fruit. It is eaten with the skin - microelements are concentrated in it.
Only kumquat (the only citrus fruit) contains no nitrates. The tree does not absorb them, regardless of the concentration in the soil.

Benefits of kumquat for the body

It’s not for nothing that the Chinese call kumquat “golden orange”. Thanks to the mineral and vitamin composition, the benefits are felt in any form.

Fresh fruit

The maximum benefit comes from fresh fruits, including peel and juice:

  • Crushed fruits with honey treat coughs and sore throats.
  • Thanks to the high content of vitamin C, infections are suppressed and the immune system is strengthened. A glass of juice is beneficial during flu epidemics as a preventive measure.
  • A couple of fruits will quickly neutralize a hangover.
  • Acts as a tonic for the body as a whole. The liver and gallbladder feel particular benefits.
  • Vitamin A and beta-carotene prevent the development of cataracts.
  • The benefits of fiber include normalizing insulin and glucose levels and inhibiting the development of type 2 diabetes.
  • Aging and skin pigmentation are slowed down.
  • Pectin, fiber, enzymes regulate the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Removes cholesterol, radionuclides, and toxins from the body.
  • Helps with nausea, heaviness in the stomach from overeating.
Kumquat is used only fresh for weight loss: the benefits are low in calories plus fiber, which cleanses the gastrointestinal tract.
  • Only fresh fruits can be consumed if you have diabetes. The doctor determines the norm.
  • If there is no allergy, kumquat is not contraindicated during early pregnancy. You can eat little by little, especially since this neutralizes early toxicosis.

Recipes from Chinese traditional medicine have become world heritage:

  • Kumquat tincture with honey normalizes heart function, equalizes blood pressure, lowering cholesterol levels;
  • citrus juice or pulp destroys the fungus.

The benefit will be from fruit of the following conditions: firm, uniformly deep orange, without spotting, with intact skin.
The juice is added to masks, creams for skin whitening and depigmentation.

Dried and dried kumquat

The fruits are dried, dried whole or in pieces, usually without seeds. In the process, only water evaporates; vitamins and microelements do not disappear. Therefore, the beneficial properties of kumquats after processing are the same as fresh fruits.


There are even additional advantages:

  1. The concentration of useful components is higher.
  2. Lots of potassium - useful for the treatment of heart disease, an anti-stroke element.
  3. The bactericidal effect of dried peel is enhanced.
  4. Dry or dried kumquat is beneficial for constipation and “lazy” digestion.
  5. Dried kumquat prevents atherosclerosis, cleanses blood vessels, and is beneficial for hypertension.
  6. To quickly get rid of a hangover, it is enough to chew three or four dried or dried fruits.
  7. Dried kumquat fruits can be stored for months to be eaten when fresh ones are not available (the harvest is harvested from November to April).
  8. The energy value of dried or dried fruits is higher than fresh ones. Therefore, their benefits are noticeable for a weakened or growing organism.
  9. Calories aren't always a deterrent for dieters. The dried product also has more pectins, polysaccharides, and riboflavin, so metabolism accelerates and weight decreases.

When buying dried fruits, you need to carefully consider them:

  • Color. Dried fruits are obtained from different varieties or hybrids with other citrus fruits. That's why they have different colors. But they are always yellow-orange-amber. The benefit of the red or green variety is zero.
  • Color saturation. Natural dried kumquat is pale. Tinted specimens get a bright shade.
  • Surface. Whitish dots and stains are a sign that the raw material was defective and was processed during drying.
  • Smell. The natural dried product has a citrus aroma. “Chemistry” appears after processing.
Green kumquat is not ripe, soft is stale. There is no benefit from either.

Properties of candied fruits

Candied fruits are obtained by boiling the fruits in sugar syrup and drying them.
There are almost no vitamins and other useful substances left after thermal sugar processing. The benefit of the product is instant energy saturation. If your strength is at zero or you are overcome by depression, it is enough to eat a few pieces of kumquat with tea or coffee for everything to get better.

Benefits of essential oil

Exotic citrus oil is beneficial as a medicinal or aesthetic remedy:

  • for inhalations for acute respiratory infections;
  • for spa treatments;
  • with oils of other plants, it heals problematic skin;
  • eliminates cellulite and postpartum stretch marks.

The aroma of kinkan oil is used to treat diseases of the nervous system and emotional disorders: stress, insomnia, anxiety. An aroma lamp or a peel placed on a heater will do. At the same time, the room will be disinfected, which is useful during seasonal epidemics.

How to eat kumquat correctly

There is no special etiquette for kumquat:

  • Fresh fruit is eaten whole, with the skin. Therefore, wash thoroughly before use.
  • The fruit is bitten off or cut in half along with the peel. Experts assure that only the composition of the tastes of the pulp (sourness) and the shell (sweetness plus piquant bitterness) allows one to appreciate the uniqueness of the fruit.
The benefit of the peel is that this is where the reserves of copper, iron, molybdenum, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and essential oils are concentrated.
  • If eating the skin seems terrible, it is peeled, like an orange or a tangerine. But you shouldn’t throw it away: ordinary tea with crusts becomes exotic.
  • Salads, desserts, baked goods, and cereals are served with fruit slices. Bake or stew with vegetables, meat, fish, seafood.

An adult can eat 250-350 grams (8-11 fresh fruits) per day. Dried or dried - a third less. The daily intake of candied fruits is no more than 120-150 grams.

Contraindications and harm

Like any citrus, kumquat is not universal. It has beneficial properties and contraindications with limitations:

  1. If you have an individual intolerance to citrus fruits, but really want them, the safe norm is no more than two fruits at a time.
  2. Tendency to corpulence. Excessive consumption of fruit provokes obesity.
  3. The acids contained in the fruit make it undesirable for people with gastrointestinal problems (increased acidity of gastric juice, ulcers, gastritis), kidneys, and genitourinary system.
  4. Prohibited during breastfeeding: it is unknown how the child’s body will perceive it.
  5. For diabetes, kumquat is consumed only fresh, little by little, keeping an eye on sugar levels. And only after consultation with a doctor.

Even if you are not allergic to regular citruses, two or three slices are enough for the first tasting. There was no discomfort - you can continue to eat kumquats as much as you want.

Conclusion

The benefits of Chinese “golden orange” are undeniable. They can be used to dilute the traditional New Year's assortment of oranges and tangerines. Add a new taste, aroma, and exoticism to your personal “piggy bank.”

It has beneficial properties and contraindications. Therefore, it is better to consult a doctor.

Kumquat is not a year-round crop, but you can prolong its enjoyment. The fruit can be stored for months frozen, dried or dried.

Kumquat is a citrus fruit that resembles an orange. Kumquats are slightly larger in size than grapes. This fruit has a peculiarity - its peel is sweet, and the flesh is tart and sour.

Kumquat skin, pulp and even seeds are edible, although they have a bitter aftertaste.

Kumquat is used in cooking. It is used to make sauces, jams, jellies, marmalade, candied fruits, juices and marinades. Kumquat is added to pies, cakes, ice cream and salads, and used as a side dish and seasoning for meat and seafood dishes. The fruits are canned, pickled, baked and eaten raw.

Composition and calorie content of kumquat

The composition of kumquat is rich in useful and nutritious substances. It contains many essential oils, including limonene, pinene and monoterpene.

Kumquat contains fiber, omega-3, flavonoids, phytosterols and.

Composition 100 gr. kumquat as a percentage of the daily value is presented below.

Vitamins:

  • C – 73%;
  • A – 6%;
  • AT 12%;
  • B2 – 2%;
  • B3 – 2%.

Minerals:

Kumquat calorie content is 71 kcal per 100 g.

Kumquat is used as a medicine, as it prevents heart disease, normalizes intestinal function and strengthens the immune system.

For the bones

As we age, bones become more fragile and weaker. Kumquat will help avoid thinning of bone tissue. Calcium and magnesium in its composition strengthen bones, make them strong and healthy, and also prevent the development of osteoporosis and arthritis.

For the heart and blood vessels

High cholesterol levels in the body lead to hypertension. Cholesterol obstructs blood flow, forming plaques in the arteries and clotting blood in the veins, which can cause stroke and cardiac arrest. Kumquat contains phytosterols, which have a structure similar to cholesterol. They block its absorption by the body and reduce cholesterol levels in the blood.

The fiber in kumquat optimizes the balance of glucose and insulin in the body, eliminating the causes of diabetes.

To prevent anemia, it is important that the body produces stable red blood cells. This is facilitated by the iron contained in kumquat.

For eyes

Kumquats are rich in vitamin A and beta-carotene, which affect the quality of vision. Beta-carotene acts as an antioxidant and reduces oxidation in eye cells, preventing macular degeneration and the development of cataracts.

For the bronchi

Consumption of kumquat, rich in vitamin C, alleviates colds, flu and respiratory diseases accompanied by cough and sore throat.

For teeth and gums

To maintain oral health, brushing your teeth twice a day is not enough. You should regularly consume foods rich in vitamins and calcium. Such a product is kumquat. It strengthens teeth and protects gum health.

For the gastrointestinal tract

The fiber in kumquat normalizes the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. With the help of the fruit you can cope with constipation, diarrhea, gas formation, bloating and eliminate stomach cramps.

For kidneys and bladder

Kumquat contains a lot of citric acid. It supports kidney health, normalizes their function and prevents the formation of kidney stones. These properties make kumquat beneficial for the urinary system.

For skin

Exposure to the sun on the skin leads to the formation of wrinkles, age spots, roughening and the development of skin diseases. Antioxidants in kumquat protect the skin from harmful effects and prevent early aging.

Vitamin C, calcium and potassium in kumquat strengthen hair. Eating the fruit will make your hair strong and healthy and will also reduce hair loss.

Dried kumquat- these are the dried fruits of the wonderful citrus plant of the same name, which is believed to have first appeared in the vast expanses of Guangzhou (China). From Chinese, kumquat is translated as “golden apple,” although it is often called “Japanese orange,” as well as kinkan and fortunella. When fresh, kumquat resembles a tiny lemon, and when dried, it resembles dried apricots, although the associations are different for everyone.

Dried kumquats come in a variety of colors (see photo): yellow (“lemon”), orange (“orange”), red (“tomato”) or green (“lime”). The first two are considered natural for a given fruit. However, if the color is too bright and catchy, it means that the fruits have been tinted (in this case, they will most likely emit a slight chemical smell). Natural dried kumquat has a slightly pale tint.

In addition to color, attention should be paid to the presence or absence of whitish spots and streaks on the surface of the fruit. Their presence indicates that the kumquat was additionally treated with something during drying (usually this is done due to the appearance of mold). To avoid problems, it is better to refuse to purchase such a kumquat.

And, since we already mentioned the smell, let’s add that dried kumquat produced naturally smells of citrus and a little mint (the latter is not always the case). The presence of chemical components in its aroma indicates that the fruits were dried or given an attractive appearance with the help of chemicals, and this significantly reduces the benefits of their consumption.

Beneficial features

The beneficial properties of dried kumquat are determined by its rich composition, which contains a variety of vitamins (especially P and C), minerals (Mg, Ca, K, Na, P) and trace elements (Cu, Mn, Fe, Zn), as well as essential oils, enzymes and pectin substances. Thanks to this, it replenishes the lack of vitamins in the human body, normalizes digestion, improves immunity and effectively fights infectious diseases.

Dried kumquat is also considered a dietary product, even though, compared to fresh fruit, it has a higher carbohydrate content and, accordingly, higher calorie content. The fact is that it also contains more pectins and polysaccharides, due to which it more effectively normalizes metabolic processes in the body, and weight is reduced. True, not always, but we will talk about this in more detail in the section on the dangers of dried kumquat and contraindications to its use.

Use in cooking

The use of dried kumquat in cooking is due to its sweet taste with a slight bitterness that the peel imparts to the fruit. By the way, unlike other citrus fruits, Kumquat is usually consumed with its peel, because its flesh has a sour taste, and its peel is sweet with a pleasant bitterness.

Pieces of dried kumquat are often added to baked goods (pies, pies, casseroles), as well as to preserves and jams, which improves the taste and significantly increases the benefits of these products. But most often, dried kumquat is eaten just like that, instead of sweets, or as a snack with tea or coffee. In fact, this is an independent dessert, as tasty as it is healthy. If desired, it is permissible to lightly dust it with powdered sugar, but even without this, dried kumquat has a pleasant sweetness.

Benefits of dried kumquat and treatment

The benefits of dried kumquat for humans are enormous and, perhaps, have not yet been fully appreciated, although it is prescribed as an auxiliary therapy in the treatment of many diseases or simply to keep the body in shape.

First of all, thanks to its rich and, most importantly, natural composition, dried kumquat can successfully replace many vitamin and mineral complexes. He has a beneficial effect on the entire body: replenishes the deficiency of vitamins, minerals and trace elements, successfully fights infections, improves metabolic processes, normalizes stool and even helps eliminate hangover syndrome, for which the Chinese especially value it.

To experience the benefits of kumquat, you do not need to consume it in huge quantities. It is enough to eat 6-8 fruits a day (preferably in the morning) to feel significantly better within a couple of weeks. Moreover, overuse of dried kumquat can lead to negative consequences, more about which read below.

Harm of dried kumquat and contraindications

The harm of dried kumquat to the human body is mainly associated with excess in its use, so the famous thesis that everything is good in moderation is also true for this fruit.

Despite the fact that dried kumquat is a dietary product, it is still high in calories and carbohydrates, which means people prone to obesity should eat it with caution. In addition, a contraindication to its use is increased acidity of gastric juice and kidney disease, since poisons and toxins that kumquat effectively expels from the body pass through them and can cause complications.

And also from kumquat, both fresh and dried, should be avoided by allergy sufferers and mothers, expectant and nursing mothers, since some substances in its composition are strong allergens and can harm the child or provoke an attack.

Despite this, dried kumquat is a very useful product, which we strongly recommend that you take a closer look at.

Japanese orange, fortunella, kinkan, food of the sages, fabulous tangerine - all these are the names of a small bright fruit from the citrus genus. The benefits of kumquat have long been known in the East, but in our country it appeared on sale not so long ago. As a rule, it is presented in dried and dried form, but sometimes you can also find fresh fruits. Few people know what kind of fruit this is and what benefits it has for humans, but Fortunella is a storehouse of useful substances.

Which kumquat to choose: dried, dried or fresh

First of all, you should pay attention to quality. If the product is spoiled or treated with chemicals, the kumquat will not be beneficial, but harmful.

Fresh citrus fruits must be free of damage, stains, and plaque. As a rule, they are small in size - about 2.5 cm in diameter, although some varieties reach 5 cm in diameter. They are oblong, with thin skin and a beautiful golden-orange color.

Slight variations in color and shape are possible, since there are already hybrids of kinkan with other citrus fruits: lime, lemon, clementine, tangerine, etc. A high-quality kumquat is very juicy - about 80% of its composition is water, and the remaining 20% ​​are substances valuable to humans.

When drying or drying, most of the water is lost, but the content of vitamins and minerals does not change. However, when dried, the kumquat looks unattractive, looking like reddish-orange wrinkled lumps. If the color of the fruit is bright and saturated, it means it has been artificially tinted. Dried or dried kumquat is beneficial only if the processing took place under sunlight or in a dehydrator. If the fruits were first boiled in sugar syrup and then dried, then this is a delicious dessert, but it no longer contains any useful substances.

Kumquat fruit: composition and beneficial properties

An important advantage of kinkan is its inability to absorb nitrates from the soil, so you can be absolutely sure of the safety of the fruit in this regard.

The benefits of kumquat for the body are invaluable, since it contains almost all vital minerals and many vitamins:

  • potassium
  • calcium
  • magnesium
  • sodium
  • phosphorus
  • vitamins A, B3, B5, E and C.

The orange color of the kumquat indicates a large amount of beta-carotene; Fortunella is also rich in pectins, unsaturated, saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Depending on the condition, the energy value of the fetus changes. Fresh 100 g contains about 70 kcal, dried - about 55 kcal, dried - 245-250 kcal.

In all types, kumquat has beneficial properties. Dry fruits effectively compensate for the lack of vitamins and minerals; thanks to the large amount of vitamin C, they strengthen the immune system and have pronounced bactericidal properties. The fruits are also used to treat fungal infections, colds, and coughs. To do this, it should be eaten together with the peel, which contains a large amount of essential oils.

Dried kumquat also has the following properties:

  • normalizes digestion due to its high fiber content
  • improves metabolism
  • stimulates the secretion of gastric juice
  • energizes thanks to the large amount of carbohydrates.

The dried peel is used to disinfect air and inhalation for diseases of the upper respiratory tract. A number of experts claim that kumquat will help overcome a hangover. However, according to some sources, you need to eat 4-5 dry fruits, and according to others, about 200 g.

Dried citrus is lower in calories than dry citrus, but has the same mineral and vitamin composition. It has a beneficial effect on digestion, helps restore and improve vision thanks to vitamins A and E. These substances also actively affect the skin, maintaining its youth, freshness, preventing aging, the appearance of rashes, and effectively protect against photoaging.

Fresh kumquat fruits are used to maintain body tone, treat depression and nervous diseases, relieve stress, improve mood, and reduce anxiety. As a result, kinkan is a good prevention of heart and vascular diseases.

Possible harm and contraindications

Like any other exotic fruit, kinkan requires caution. You should not immediately include it in your diet in large quantities. The harm and benefits of kumquat can be determined, first of all, by the amount of the product. Excessive consumption of even very healthy foods can result in digestive upset.

Individual intolerance to the fruit also occurs. Essential oils contained in the peel and pulp sometimes cause an allergic reaction and cause ulcers on the oral mucosa.

Due to the high carbohydrate content, fortuneella is not recommended for diabetics. For the same reason, it is not suitable for the menu of people who are overweight. Anyone suffering from acute or chronic stomach ulcers, duodenal ulcers, gastritis, or kidney inflammation should refrain from kinkan.

Kumquat is contraindicated for pregnant women.

As you can see, in moderation and taking into account the recommendations, you can get the maximum benefit from consuming this tasty and healthy exotic fruit.