These little kiwi sisters taste fruity and sweet, are low in calories and prevent cravings. That's why kiwi berries are known as a superfood and have become real trendy fruits. They also have other advantages. You can find out everything about the new mini kiwi trend below.
The kiwi berry, also known as the mini kiwi or Nergi, is actually the same fruit that belongs to the family of commercial kiwis, namely the species “Actinidia arguta”. The name comes from the Greek: “Aktis/actinos” means “ray” - after the shining star that forms inside the fruit between the seeds. The word “Aguta” from “agutus” – pointed, refers to the typical, particularly sharply toothed leaves of the plant. It is actually a climbing plant that surprisingly has its home in Siberia, Japan and Manchuria. Since this area is characterized by extremely low temperatures, the fruit is frost-resistant. It also grows well outdoors in a temperate climate and ripens earlier than its bigger sister.
Kiwi berries as a superfood: low in calories and rich in vitamins
In Europe and also in Germany, the kiwi berry is a relatively new and little-known fruit. In contrast to normal kiwi, it has a thin, hairless skin and can be eaten immediately or unpeeled. The taste is sweet, aromatic and very similar to gooseberries, but its aftertaste is clearly reminiscent of a kiwi. The reasons why the fruits asCalled superfoodare because they are rich in vitamins and at the same time low in calories. A green berry is about 2 - 3 cm large and weighs 8 - 15 grams and just 100 grams of it already covers 87.5% of the recommended daily requirement for vitamin C. This amount only contains 52 kcal and in comparison a kiwi has 70 kcal. In addition, the small, green berries are rich in a variety of minerals and fiber. The second ones keep you full for a long time and prevent annoying cravings.
plantingand care
Most people know kiwi berries as a superfood from supermarkets. They are available in stores from September to early November. Although they come from Southeast Asia, they can be bred through new breeds in France, Italy, Portugal and the Netherlands. With the right cultivation techniques, the exotic plant even grows in the wine-growing regions of Germany. Kiwis, on the other hand, need a milder winter climate like in New Zealand, Italy or France. The fruit has also proven to be very resistant to diseases and pests. The kiwi berry produces its fruit from early September to December. A berry weighs around 5 – 15 grams (the normal kiwi around 90 – 100 grams). When cut, a kiwi berry looks like a normal kiwi, but much smaller: it has a soft, light core and around it - black seeds, which create the typical line pattern.
The fruit is best planted in spring. It prefers a well-drained, evenly moist, humus-rich soil. It cannot tolerate a lot of lime in it and the pH values should be in the slightly acidic range. The optimal location for the plant is in the crown area, although there must be partial shade at the “foot”. The more sun the fruits can soak up, the sweeter they will taste later. Since kiwis are actually climbing plants, a climbing aid should also be provided. For a high harvest, it is recommended to train the plants on a trellis. Otherwise, the mini kiwis are relatively easy to care for. Only in summer do they need timely watering and in spring – fertilization.
You can carefully grow the delicious fruits yourself or buy them in the supermarket. For a 125 g bowl (12 - 15 fruits) you pay 2.50 - 3.00 euros. At first glance the price seems high, but the small, green berries are picked by hand. Before eating, they are left to mature for a day or two at room temperature. This is how they develop their full flavor and taste best. The mini kiwis can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week or alternatively frozen in the freezer. Like many other berries, kiwi berries are best enjoyed raw or with jam, compote or juice. Below we present 2 delicious recipes.
Kiwiberry Salad
Ingredients for 2 servings:
- 125 g Kiwibeeren
- 1 pomegranate
- 60 g Arugula
- 3 tbsp linseed oil
- 2 EL Honig
- Salt and pepper
Halve the fruit and remove the seeds from the pomegranate. Wash the rocket and mix it with the kiwi berries and pomegranate seeds. Make a dressing with oil, vinegar, honey, salt and pepper and drizzle it over the salad.
KiwibeereCheesecakewithout baking
When you get an unexpected visitor and need to whip up something delicious, a no-bake cheesecake is just the thing. The ingredients required are commercially available and usually used to prepare a traditional cheesecake. The recipe is really easy and the little cake tastes very tasty. Try it out!
Ingredients for about 8 pieces of cake:
- 100 g Kiwibeeren
- 1 Pack. Butter biscuit
- 500 g low-fat quark
- 250 g cream cheese
- 100 g Butter
- 100g white chocolate
- 50g powdered sugar
- Juice of one lime
preparation:
Place the shortbread cookies in a bag and crush them with a rolling pin or an empty wine bottle. Melt the butter and mix well with the crumbled cookies. Take a suitable springform pan, line the base with baking paper and distribute the biscuit-butter mixture evenly. Then press the biscuit base firmly with a spoon and put it in the fridge.
Melt the white chocolate. Juice half a lime and mix it with the cream cheese and low-fat quark in a bowl. Remove the cake base from the refrigerator and spread the cheesecake cream evenly over it. It's best to use a knife or a spatula to smooth out the cream. Put the cake back in the fridge and let it cool for at least 3 - 4 hours.
If you're pressed for time and have to do it really quickly, skip the white chocolate and sweeten with 80 g of powdered sugar instead.
Wash the kiwi berries, cut about four of them in half and set aside. Puree the rest with a hand blender or in a blender. Add the juice of half a lime and 50 g of powdered sugar. The result is a fruit puree, which you spread evenly over the cake with a spoon. Decorate each piece with half a kiwi berry and serve.
Small and juicy green, the crunchy look makes you want to take a bite straight away. And no wonder, there's a lot more to these tiny things than meets the eye. Here are 4 pro points why you have to try this super fruit:
- It tastes pleasantly sweet, refreshing and extremely mild.
- It does not need to be peeled and can be eaten straight away.
- It is a great source of energy and a low-calorie snack that is full of vitamins and healthy nutrients.
- Unlike other types of berries, it is available on fruit shelves until November.
