Is Kiwi Fruit Part of the Citrus Family?
Things are fuzzy when it comes to kiwi fruit. Is it a fruit, berry, or part of the citrus family? The Kiwi fruit's exterior is unlike other fruit, brown and furry. Its inside is green to yellow, and it tastes tangy and sweet. Its zesty flavour leaves us wondering, is it citrus?
Family Classification
Citrus fruits belong to the Rutaceae family. This family includes lemons, oranges, limes, and grapefruits. Citrus fruits are known for their juicy segments, high vitamin C content, and zesty rind containing essential oils.
The kiwi fruit is botanically classified as a berry. It belongs to the Actinidiaceae family, particularly of the genus Actinidia. Kiwi fruit originated in China and was once known as the Chinese gooseberry. Kiwi fruit is a vine-grown berry that has become a commercial crop in New Zealand, Italy, and Chile.
The Citrus Confusion
Despite not being a citrus fruit, the kiwi's taste must often be clarified. The kiwi offers a unique combination of sweetness and tartness. Kiwi's sharp flavour can be attributed to the presence of similar organic acids found in citrus.
Kiwi fruit has citric and ascorbic acids, but the kiwi's texture and structure are different from citrus. Citrus fruits are segmented and encased in a pith. Kiwi has a consistent, soft texture throughout its flesh, without any segmentation.
Nutritional Value
Kiwi and citrus fruits do share commonalities in their nutritional value. Kiwi fruits are packed with vitamins C and K, dietary fibre, and other antioxidants. They offer a range of health benefits, from boosting the immune system to aiding digestion. Kiwi fruits are often recommended as part of a healthy diet, much like citrus fruits.
Kiwi Fruit Versus Oranges in a Vitamin C Battle
Kiwi fruit is known for its high vitamin C content. 100 grams of kiwi fruit has, on average, 92.7 milligrams of vitamin C. This makes kiwi fruit one of the richest sources of vitamin C among fruits.
How do oranges compare? Oranges, known to have high vitamin C, contain slightly less of this essential nutrient per 100 grams. An average orange has about 53.2 milligrams of vitamin C per 100 grams.
Kiwi fruit has been hiding its vitamin C power. It is interesting that kiwi fruit not only rivals but exceeds the vitamin C content of oranges gram for gram. This makes kiwis an excellent choice for those looking to boost their vitamin C intake. Surprisingly, this is not common knowledge, and marketers have yet to use this to boost kiwi sales.
Go for Gold
Golden kiwi, also known as yellow kiwi, has a slightly different nutritional profile compared to the green variety. Golden kiwi fruit has more vitamin C than green kiwis. They are also sweeter than green kiwi fruit.
On average, 100 grams of golden kiwi contains about 161.3 milligrams of vitamin C. This is significantly higher than both green kiwi and oranges. This makes the golden kiwi an even more exceptional source of vitamin C, and you can get well over the daily recommended intake in just a single serving.
This vitamin C in golden kiwi fruit makes it a powerful antioxidant source. It also makes it an excellent fruit for immune system health, skin health, and collagen formation.
Daily Vitamin C Recommendations
The high vitamin C content contributes to the tangy and slightly sour taste that both fruits are known for. In terms of daily requirements, 100 grams of kiwi provide more than the recommended amount of vitamin C for an adult. The daily recommended amount is about 65 to 90 milligrams per day.
The same amount of orange will also substantially contribute to the daily vitamin C requirement, though not as much as kiwi.
Berry, Not Citrus, But Equally Tasty
While the kiwi fruit shares some similarities with citrus fruits, it is not a citrus fruit. It is a berry that stands out with its distinct characteristics. It is sweeter and has higher vitamin C content. If you are looking for a versatile fruit to boost your vitamin C levels, grab a kiwi fruit and enjoy!
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