Kiwi Berries

Tom · October 30, 2009, 09:33:55 PM

What the heck are Kiwi Berries. Gael came home with a package of them tonight and I said, "what the heck is a Kiwi Berry". She said, I don't know. They were on sale.

So I came to the computer to find out. Just a label on the box that said, "wash before eating" wasn't enough.

Well, as it turns out, they are miniature, grape-sized Kiwi Fruits. You know, that fuzzy lemon sized thing with the green inside and the black seeds? Well these are the same except that they are little and not fuzzy. I might have to try one later.

The sites on the computer say that their season is short so get them while you can. Hmmm. I'll consider that, I guess, but would I really miss them if I miss the season, when I didn't know thy existed anyway? ???

There is really not much to them. 6 oz. to a serving, 1% fat, 10% carbs, and 31% fiber. Heck, I could get that by eating grape vines. ;D

fishpharmer · October 30, 2009, 10:06:51 PM

Never heard of them. Maybe one of our Kiwi friends can enlighten us further.
I do like the regular Kiwi fruit. ;D

WDH · October 30, 2009, 11:39:37 PM

Tom,

If you run short of grapevines, I have plenty that I can send you to re-stock :D.

DanG · October 31, 2009, 12:01:16 AM

I never particularly cared for the taste of shoe polish myself, though it does smell kinda good.

Tree Reb · November 03, 2009, 07:11:10 AM

Quote from: fishpharmer on October 30, 2009, 10:06:51 PM
Never heard of them. Maybe one of our Kiwi friends can enlighten us further.
I do like the regular Kiwi fruit. ;D

Don't trust those Kiwi's. lol

Kiwi Fruit is really a Chinese Gooseberry, we grew them when I was a kid. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiwifruit

Are your's like these?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gooseberry

fishpharmer · November 03, 2009, 09:57:40 AM

Kiwifruit are my choice.

DanG, it finally sunk in what you was talking about. The "Kiwi" shoe polish. Now that fella that started that company was pretty smart. I never tasted the stuff but had my fair share of smelling and trying to rub a hole into footware with it. ;)

Tom · November 03, 2009, 10:02:24 AM

Pretty much like THESE

The outfit that packaged the ones that ended up in my house was HURST

Actually, they are pretty good and make a good snack. I find, unlike anything I've read, that there is a very slight taste familiar with muscadine grapes. The smooth skin makes them pleasant feeling in the mouth and the flavor is rich enough that a small handful is sufficient.

Ernie · November 03, 2009, 12:46:34 PM

I've lived in New Zealand for the last 38 years and have never heard of these things and I suppose that if I had died yesterday, I never would have. I cant seem to find any producers in NZ but I am still looking.

fishpharmer · November 03, 2009, 12:51:23 PM

Ernie, that's really funny to me. Kiwi fruit may be like the shoe polish, a name for marketing.

I got an Idea for my milling service Kiwi Redneck Sawyer Inc. :D

Ianab · November 03, 2009, 02:47:06 PM

Never tried them myself, but I have seen them in the shop, they seem to be a new things here too.

Reading Tom's link, they are related to the berries that the classic Kiwifruit was developed from. From memory the original Chinese fruit was smaller and never became popular untill they bred it into the bigger 'Chinese Gooseberry', which was renamed as Kiwifruit for marketing reasons.

If it's anything like the Kiwifruit vine it will probably become an invasive weed soon enough ;)

Ian

PS

Ernie - Site for the local producers.
http://www.nzkiwiberry.com/index.html

Ernie · November 03, 2009, 07:48:22 PM

Thanks Ian, maybe I should stick a few plants in and see what happens although, I never could get Kudzu to grow, could be my black thumb ;D

ScottAR · November 04, 2009, 02:35:21 AM

Will Kudzu grow upside down?

We Americans can't get it to stop growing...

SwampDonkey · November 04, 2009, 03:40:08 AM

I knew China had to have something to do with it. :D

I have an $8 watch made in China. When all the nickle plating wore off, guess what's under it? Copper. All the copper your scrapping and sending over there so I can have an $8 watch. If nothing else, it'll keep the rheumatism away. :D

Tom · November 09, 2009, 05:25:21 PM

I just wanted those who may be interested to know, that if you have been depending on prunes, these kiwi berries have them beat hands down. :-\ :-\ :-\ :-\ :D

Mooseherder · November 09, 2009, 05:33:22 PM

smiley_airfreshener smiley_smelly_skunk smiley_tom_dizzyguy03

SwampDonkey · November 10, 2009, 04:25:26 AM

Talking about prunes. My father is real fussy about where his prunes come from. Apparently, he goes by taste and knows when someone buys him shotty prunes.

:D