Loquats
Loquats are small, round to pear-shaped fruits with a smooth, yellow or orange skin. The fruit has a slightly tangy-sweet flavor, often described as a mix of apricot, peach, and citrus. They grow on a tree native to China but are now cultivated in many parts of the world.
- Skin: Thin and edible.
- Flesh: Juicy and sweet with a slightly tart note. Inside, you’ll find a few large seeds that should be discarded.
- Uses: Loquats are delicious fresh but can also be used in jams, jellies, or baked goods like pies and tarts. They can also be used in savory dishes.
Kumquats
Kumquats are tiny citrus fruits, about the size of a large olive or small grape, and they’re unique because you eat the peel along with the flesh. The peel is sweet, while the inside is tangy, making them a sweet-sour snack.
- Skin: Thin, edible, and sweet.
- Flesh: Tart, but the combination of the sweet peel and sour flesh creates a delightful balance.
- Uses: They’re often eaten raw, pickled, or used in marmalade. They’re also great in salads, salsas, or as a garnish.
Which One is It?
- Loquats are bigger and typically sweeter with a hint of tartness, while kumquats are small and you eat the skin, which is sweet, balancing out the sour inside.
If you’ve been thinking of something small, tangy, and edible with the peel, kumquats might be the ones! If it’s a slightly larger, more fleshy fruit with a mix of sweet and tart, loquats could be the fruit you’re recalling.
Let me know if that helps, or if you have any other questions!