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Thursday, March 24, 2005

Berry bombs

When I saw kiwiberries in this week's Good Living, I didn't really think I'd see them at the local Woollies.

But there they were. $3.99 for a punnet. Oh go on... why not. Gastronomic research you know?... :-)

According to the Good Living blurb, kiwiberries are hand-picked, "vary in shape from round to elongated, weigh between 5 and 20 grams, and are loaded with Vitamin C".

Once home and having mauled open the packet to inspecting the contents, the kiwiberries themselves weren't that impressive. They're a funny almost-khaki colour with tinges of darker green stripes a little reminiscent of a watermelon. On top is a sprouting of Bert-like hair from Sesame Street, and on the bottom is a tiny hardened indent where the stalk was once attached.


Slicing one down the middle though... wow... different story. Very pretty. Vivid green. Just like a tiny kiwifruit.

But you're supposed to eat these whole I know. "Just like a grape" it says on the packaging. I just had to have a bit of a look-see for my own self-gratification as well as, you know, compulsive blogographic photo opportunities.

Popped one of these babies into the mouth and *kaboom* hello kiwifruit flavour! Tastes just like a kiwifruit would if it were a cherry tomato! The skin is a little tart and requires a bit of an after-swallow, but hey this sure beats the usual peeling of the brown fuzz (and no, don't even try to convince me to eat kiwifruit with the skin on).

These look much prettier sliced open but then you'd lose the whole effect of the cherry bomb explosion. I guess that's why the kiwiberries kit themselves up in camouflage. And travel in punnets...

You can find them hiding in the berry section of your gourmet-stocking supermarket and greengrocer.
6 comments - Add some comment love

posted by Helen (AugustusGloop) on 3/24/2005 06:00:00 pm


6 Comments:

  • At 3/24/2005 7:28 pm, Blogger Ben said…

    These are something new! I'll have to give them atest run soon. Let the wonderful world of bizare cross-bredding (or genetic manipulation?) roll on!

     
  • At 3/24/2005 7:36 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    I am not a big fan of kiwifruit but these berries are so cute. Are they sour?

     
  • At 3/24/2005 10:29 pm, Blogger Ms One Boobie said…

    Very pretty.. but never had these before.. gonna look out for them..when i'm in the city.. ;) Pete's frootique usually have some exclusive selections of food.. ;)

     
  • At 3/24/2005 11:30 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Oh, are these a new hybrid of kiwifruit? I've never seen them before. The idea of having kiwifruit mini-sized is cool; not having to peel and cut them is even cooler. I'm keeping a lookout for these cuties. :)

     
  • At 3/25/2005 2:03 pm, Blogger pinkcocoa said…

    hey AG
    I have been eyeing these kiwiberries for a long while now at Woolies. They are still a tad expensive for me so I could only look and look! They look so cute inside! awwwwwww.

     
  • At 3/26/2005 2:43 pm, Blogger Helen (AugustusGloop) said…

    Hi BHR - According to this American Kiwi Berry website, the "hardy kiwi "actinidia arguta" originated in the temperate areas of China, Japan, Russia, and Korea and arrived in the United States on Clipper Ships in the 1800's" so they're not actually genetically manipulated or cross-bred.

    They're definitely an interesting taste-test and point of conversation.

    Hi ST - nope, these berries are surpisingly sweet and exploding with kiwifruit flavour. Only the skin is a little tart (like plum skins I guess) and they're much more fun to eat.

    Hi MrsT - You'll have to post up some pics if you do manage to find them. Apparently there are different varieties of kiwiberries too.

    Hi Julia - No I don't think these are cross-bred (see my response to BHR's comment above).

    They are easier to eat, but of course kiwifruit have the advantage of more juicy flesh--ooh, now I'm getting kiwifruit cravings just typing all of this! :-P

    Hi pinkcocoa - They are a little pricey, but not exhorbitantly so. Especially when you justify them as being no-fat, high Vitamin C and sensory gastronomic enlightenment! :-)

     

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