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Home » Produce guides » Kumquats

Published: Feb 27, 2020 · Modified: Oct 7, 2024 by Veronica T

Kumquats

Kumquats are in season in the middle of winter to early spring.

Kumquats can only be found during their short season. Eat the whole fruit (the rind is sweet)!

Jump to:
  • When are kumquats in season?
  • How to pick & store
  • How to eat kumquats
  • Related: Limequats
  • Recipes

When are kumquats in season?

Most kumquats in the US are grown in Florida and California.

  • Florida season: November to March
  • California season: January to April

See what else is available at the same time:

  • Fruits and vegetables in season for November
    The practical produce guide: November 2024
  • December produce guide: fruits & vegetables in season
    The practical produce guide: December 2024
  • January image with citrus fruits
    Practical produce guide: January 2025
  • Produce & recipe guide for February, with a winter salad and oranges on a table
    Produce & recipe guide: February 2025
  • March produce guide: fruits & vegetables in season
    The practical produce guide: March 2025
  • Bundles of herbs on a black countertop with text "April produce & recipe guide"
    The practical produce guide, April 2025

How to pick & store

Not all stores carry them (yet!). If you can't find them near you, check with an Asian grocer, as the fruit is more popular in Asian cooking.

Kumquats should be plump and have no shriveled skin (a sign they are old and drying out).

You can leave them on the counter if you're going to eat them within a few days. Or you can put them in the fridge for several weeks.

How to eat kumquats

The entire fruit can be eaten, including the rind (peel). The rind is sweet and the flesh is very sour or tart. The seeds are edible, but quite bitter so most people spit them out.

To eat them whole, roll it around in your hands to release the aromatic oils (our sense of smell greatly impacts our sense of taste). Then pop it in your mouth and spit out the seeds.

You can also slice them or chop into a chutney. Remove the seeds, as you would for other citrus.

Related: Limequats

Limequats are a cross between a key lime and a kumquat. Their peel is sweet, but less so than a kumquat. If you like eating sour things, this is for you. The edible peel also makes this great for marmalade and chutney.

Recipes

This collection of recipes are hand selected to make sure all ingredients are in-season at the same time as kumquats.

Salads & appetizers

Kumquats add a sweet-sour element to any salad, side, or appetizer. It's a fun way to add interest to a winter dish.

Kumquat honeycomb tartines recipe by The Bojon Gourmet
Kumquat honeycomb tartines
Kumquat kale salad with tahini dressing recipe by Minimalist Baker
Kumquat kale salad with tahini dressing
Roasted asparagus with sautéed shallots & kumquats recipe by Floating Kitchen
Roasted asparagus with sautéed shallots & kumquats
Kumquat salsa by Simply Recipes
Kumquat salsa
Raw asparagus salad with feta, dates, hazelnuts, and kumquats recipe by Feed Me Dearly
Raw asparagus salad with feta, dates, hazelnuts, and kumquats

Meat

Kumquats pair well with gamey meat like lamb or venison. They also work well with most dishes that traditionally use other citrus fruit, like fish or chicken.

Citrus baked salmon with kumquats & fingerling potatoes recipe by Feasting At Home
Citrus baked salmon with kumquats & fingerling potatoes
Kumquat chicken with kumquat hoisin sauce recipe by Roti & Rice
Kumquat chicken with kumquat hoisin sauce
Braised lamb shanks with kumquat, fennel, cardamom, and mint recipe by Eat in my Kitchen
Braised lamb shanks with kumquat, fennel, cardamom, and mint

Desserts

Use the tartness to balance out otherwise very sweet desserts.

Black sesame kumquat financiers recipe by The Bojon Gourmet
Black sesame kumquat financiers
Chocolate tart with candied kumquats recipe by Sugar Hero
Chocolate tart with candied kumquats
Candied kumquats by Simply Recipes
Candied kumquats
White chocolate & lemon curd pavlova with kumquats recipe by Broma Bakery
White chocolate & lemon curd pavlova with kumquats
Kumquat upside-down cake recipe by Alexandra Cooks
Kumquat upside-down cake

Have a favorite kumquat recipe to share?

Leave a comment so everyone else can check it out.

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About the Food Geek

Welcome, I'm Veronica, your resident food geek - experienced recipe developer and gardener. My goal is to help you enjoy eating at home by knowing what fruits & vegetables are currently in season and the best ways to use them. To do that, I've put together seasonal produce guides and recipes with practical advice.

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