Meet the kinkan (kumquat). Tiny, tart and tantalizing, these little citrus fruits are ideal for a simple kumquat recipe and are easy to find at local supermarkets throughout winter in Japan. Not much larger than an olive, a kinkan ranges in diameter from two to four centimeters. But despite their miniature size, kumquats are packed with flavor and nutrition, and unlike other citrus fruits, they’re often enjoyed whole — skin and all.
Eaten raw, the thin, crunchy peel yields easily to the teeth, the orange orbs bursting with tangy juice. Fragrant oils spray the air, releasing a delicate floral aroma from the pores of the fruit’s sweet, lustrous skin.
When boiled with sugar, kumquats become tender and glossy, tempering the sourness of the fruit’s flesh and preserving its fragrance in a thick nectar. A versatile topping for everything from yogurt to pancakes, we share a simple recipe for kumquats in syrup below.
But first, a little background on the tiniest citrus fruit.
An Auspicious Japanese New Year Food
Kinkan no Kanroni (Candied Kumquat) Recipe
An Auspicious Japanese New Year Food
Known as kinkan no kanroni in Japanese, candied kumquat is a sweet treat, home remedy and palate cleanser rolled into one —which helps explain its popularity among osechi ryori (Japanese New Year cuisine) dishes. It’s the equivalent of eating cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving, with a bright, acidic flavor that cuts through the otherwise heavy (and rather brown—at least in the case of American Thanksgiving) meal.
Like other Japanese New Year foods, kinkan has a symbolic meaning that involves wordplay. 金柑 (kinkan; “kumquat”) is a homonym of 金冠 (kinkan; “golden crown”). If you want to attract wealth in the New Year, a kumquat might just be your golden ticket!
Kinkan is also an auspicious food to eat during the winter solstice in Japan. During this time of year, it’s said that eating foods with two letter n’s (ん and ン in hiragana and katakana) in their names attracts luck. Besides kinkan, this includes foods like ぎんなん (ginnan; “gingko nuts”), にんじん (ninjin; “carrots”) and レンコン (renkon; “lotus root”).
Kumquat Health Benefits
Image: Rika Hoffman
Need another reason to include kinkan in your diet? Kumquats are full of health benefits, including:
- High amounts of dietary fiber (especially the peel) for satiety and improved digestion
- Antioxidants like vitamin C, which boosts the immune system, promotes iron absorption and stimulates collagen production
- Moderate amounts of vitamin A, which is beneficial for the immune system, reproductive system and vision
Popular in Chinese medicine, eating candied kumquats is also a traditional Japanese remedy for sore throat and cough. Steep one or two kumquats in a mug of hot water with a teaspoon of syrup and sip your way to a soothed throat.
Kinkan no Kanroni (Candied Kumquat) Recipe
Image: Rika Hoffman
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