My sister-in-law picks a lot of kumquats for me every year. Sometimes I remove the seeds and pulp, add sugar, then cook into jam. Sometimes after removing the seeds, I add lemon and sugar to cook into kumquat syrup for tea. Sometimes I simply slice it, add lemon slices and honey then add into water to drink it. No matter how they are done, I love them all. The English name “kumquat” derives from the Cantonese kamkwat. The kumquat plant is native to China. They have long been cultivated in other parts of East Asia (Japan and Taiwan), South Asia (India), and Southeast Asia (especially the Philippines). They were introduced to Europe in 1846 by Robert Fortune, collector for the London Horticultural Society, and shortly thereafter were taken to North America.
每一年我的嫂嫂都會摘一大堆金橘給我，我有時去籽去肉，加糖熬煮成果醬，又時去籽後加入檸檬及糖，煮成金橘糖漿來泡茶，有時只簡單的切片，加入檸檬片及蜜糖泡水喝，不管怎麼作法，我都愛。英文名稱“金橘”源自粵語“ kamkwat”。金橘原產於中國。很久以前就種植在東亞（日本和台灣），南亞（印度）和東南亞（尤其是菲律賓）等地區。 它們於1846年由倫敦園藝協會的收藏家 Robert Fortune 引入歐洲，此後不久被帶到北美。
Notes 筆記
- The English name “kumquat” derives from the Cantonese kamkwat. The kumquat plant is native to China. They have long been cultivated in other parts of East Asia (Japan and Taiwan), South Asia (India), and Southeast Asia (especially the Philippines). They were introduced to Europe in 1846 by Robert Fortune, collector for the London Horticultural Society, and shortly thereafter were taken to North America.
- They are slow-growing evergreen shrubs or short trees, with dense branches, sometimes bearing small thorns. Depending on size, the kumquat tree can produce hundreds or even thousands of fruits each year.
- The round kumquat, Marumi kumquat or Morgani kumquat (Citrus japonica or Fortunella japonica) is an evergreen tree that produces edible golden-yellow fruit. The peel has a sweet flavor, but the fruit has a distinctly sour center. The fruit can be eaten cooked but is mainly used to make marmalades, jellies, and other spreads. It can be used in bonsai cultivation. The plant symbolizes good luck in China and other Asian countries. Round kumquats are more commonly cultivated than other species due to their high cold tolerance.
- The oval kumquat or Nagami kumquat (Citrus margarita or Fortunella margarita) is ovoid in shape and typically eaten whole, skin and all. The inside is still quite sour, but the skin has a very sweet flavor. The tree tends to be much smaller and dwarf in nature, making it ideal for pots and occasionally bonsai cultivation.
- The Meiwa kumquat (Citrus crassifolia or Fortunella crassifolia) was brought to Japan from China. It has seedy oval fruits and thick leaves.
- The Hong Kong kumquat (Citrus hindsii or Fortunella hindsii) produces only pea-sized bitter and acidic fruit with very little pulp and large seeds. It is primarily grown as an ornamental plant.
- The Jiangsu kumquat or Fukushu kumquat (Citrus obovata or Fortunella obovata) bears edible fruit that can be eaten raw, as well as made into jelly and marmalade. It has round leaves.
- The Malayan kumquat (Fortunella polyandra or Tanaka’s Fortunella swinglei) from the Malay Peninsula where it is known as the “hedge lime”.
- The essential oil of the kumquat peel contains much of the aroma of the fruit, and is composed principally of limonene.
- 英文名稱“金橘”源自粵語“ kamkwat”。金橘原產於中國。很久以前就種植在東亞（日本和台灣），南亞（印度）和東南亞（尤其是菲律賓）等地區。 它們於1846年由倫敦園藝協會的收藏家 Robert Fortune 引入歐洲，此後不久被帶到北美。
- 它們是生長緩慢的常綠灌木或矮樹，具茂密的樹枝，有時具小刺。根據大小，金橘樹每年可以產生數百甚至數千個果實。
- 圓形金橘圓金柑(長實金柑)(四季桔/四季橘）（Citrus japonica 或 Fortunella japonica）是一種常綠喬木，可生出可食用的金黃色水果。果皮有甜味，但果實有明顯的酸味。水果可以煮熟食用，但主要用於製作果醬，果凍和其他塗味品。它可用於盆景栽培。在中國和其他亞洲國家，它象徵著好運。圓形金橘由於具有較高的耐寒性，因此比其他物種更常被栽種。
- 卵形金橘或橢圓金柑(金棗/金柑）(Citrus margarita or Fortunella margarita）呈卵形，通常整個皮及肉一起食用。裡面還是很酸，但是皮很甜。這種樹往往較小且矮，使其成為盆栽和盆景栽培的理想之選。
- 明和(金彈)金橘（Citrus crassifolia或Fortunella crassifolia）從中國帶到日本。 它是橢圓形有籽的水果和有濃密的葉子。
- 香港(山橘)金橘（Citrus hindsii 或 Fortunella hindsii）僅產生豌豆大小有苦味和酸味水果，幾乎沒有果肉但有大種子。 它主要是作為觀賞植物。
- 江蘇金橘或福壽金橘(長壽金柑)（Citrus obovata或Fortunella obovata）會產出可食用的水果，也可製成果凍和果醬。 它有圓形的葉子。
- 馬來半島的馬來亞金橘(長葉金柑)（Fortunella polyandra或Tanaka的Fortunella swinglei），在這裡被稱為“樹籬酸橙”。
- 金橘果皮的香精油含有水果的大部分香氣，並且主要由檸檬烯組成。
References 參考資料
Plants Posts 植物的帖子