Farmers’ Market Report: Kumquats Los Angeles

published Feb 23, 2009
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(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

We hope you’ll forgive us for writing about kumquats again, but these ones are different! We just can’t contain our excitement over finding these two unusual kumquat varieties at the Hollywood farmers’ market this weekend. They exemplify one of our favorite things about farmers’ market shopping – the unexpected discovery of new colors, textures, forms, and flavors.

As we mentioned in our seasonal spotlight last week, the there are two types of kumquats commonly found in the United States: Meiwa and Nagami. So we were delighted to see some different kumquat hybrids on Sunday:

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

These Kalimanda kumquats are larger than the more common varieties and have the loveliest subtle stripes. They have a slightly thicker rind and the characteristic sweet peel and tart flesh. We haven’t been able to find any information about Kalimandas. Perhaps they are related to Calamondin kumquats, although they look different from the images we researched. We’ll have to go back and ask the farmer next week!

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Fukushu or Changshou kumquats are round with smooth, shiny skins. In the ones we tasted, the intensity of both the sweet peel and sour flesh was quite pronounced.

Have you ever had these or other unusual types of kumquats?

• For more information on the Hollywood farmers’ market and other Los Angeles area markets, visit Farmernet.com

(Images: Emily Ho)