Kiwi

Kiwi

What it is

It was sold as Chinese gooseberry until June 1959, when a New Zealand exporter facing Cold War buyers and a United States tariff on berries renamed it after the national bird. The vine itself is Chinese, from the Yangtze valley; only the name is a Pacific invention.

In the kitchen

Its protease, actinidin, digests both gelatine and milk protein — raw kiwi will stop a jelly setting and turn cream bitter within the hour. Blanch the fruit for a minute before it meets either, or set the dish with agar instead.

Goes with

Lime Mint Honey Banana Strawberry Ginger Desiccated coconut Yogurt

Same species

Kiwi berry

In season alongside

Cranberry Dongchimi Feijoa Forced rhubarb Physalis Apple

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