The kiwi, also known as the Chinese gooseberry, is a berry fruit, just like lemons, oranges & Co. Botanically, the kiwi is not related to citrus fruits. The kiwi surpasses the lemon in vitamin C content.
Except for the high vitamin C content and the fact that kiwis and citrus fruits are berries, these two types of exotic fruits do not have much in common. While the citrus plants belong to the rue family, the kiwi plants belong to the radiant pen family. Besides lemons, citrus fruits include:
- tangerines,
- oranges,
- grapefruit,
- limes,
- kumquats.
similarities and differences
The deciduous kiwi shrubs and evergreen citrus trees are warmth-loving and thrive in regions with subtropical and tropical climates. Both plants are sensitive to frost and need winter protection in local latitudes or must be overwintered frost-free. In contrast to the quite robust kiwi plants, the citrus plants are more susceptible to diseases and pests.
Citrus fruits are a special form of berries. The kiwi originally came to New Zealand from Asia as the Chinese gooseberry, where it was later renamed by New Zealand fruit growers because of its resemblance to the native bird. In addition, the Actinidia deliciosa and all citrus species have in common the finely sour taste and the high content of vitamin C. In contrast to citrus fruits, the kiwi fruits are harvested unripe and continue to ripen during storage.
What makes kiwis healthy
The kiwis are healthy and an ideal source of vitamins for the cold season when fresh fruit from local cultivation is no longer available. The kiwi fruit contains few calories, hardly any fat and a lot of vitamin C. 100 g of kiwi cover 95% of the daily vitamin C requirement of an adult. They also contain the proteolytic enzyme actinidin, which promotes the digestion of meat meals.
tips and tricks
Kiwi can also be eaten with the skin on. It should be washed thoroughly beforehand and rubbed off so that the fine hairs are no longer disturbing.
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