A kumquat isn’t much bigger than a grape, yet this bite-sized fruit fills your mouth with a big burst of sweet-tart citrus flavor. In Chinese, kumquat means “golden orange.” They were originally grown in China. Now they’re also grown in several other countries, including warmer areas of the United States, such as Florida and California. In contrast with other citrus fruits, the peel of the kumquat is sweet and edible, while the juicy flesh is tart.

This is a kumquat.

Loquats are small fruits with a sweet, slightly tart flavor. Recent research suggests that loquats may offer a variety of health benefits, including protection against some diseases. The loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) is a tree in the rose family native to China. It is prized for its sweet fruit. Loquats are small, round fruits that grow in clusters. Their color varies from yellow to red-orange, depending on the variety. Loquat fruit, seeds, and leaves are packed with potent plant compounds and have been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years.

This is a Loquat.

All of this fabulous information is according to Healthline.com.

Now you have to hang with me. I know you are asking why on earth is Marilyn writing about kumquats and loquats. First off, because they are fun to say! And second, because lots of people in Zellwood have them in their yards and don’t even know what they are. As it states above, they are edible, skins and all and they can be nice, sweet/tart taste.

These are pictures of my friend Ellyn’s loquat tree in Zellwood. (Thank you, Ellyn, for letting me photograph them.) As you can see, these trees grow quite large. There are lots of blooms happening.

This is an old video of my dad explaining Loquats to my Uncle George. I hope you find it as entertaining as I do. It’s very short and funny. I think it was made around 1986, so you understand the fashion! And if you listen carefully he has a suggestion for their use.

Yup, THAT is my dad, so if you know me, it explains a LOT!

I was talking to my friend Ginger about the kumquats and loquats, and she remembered a Kumquat parade in Orlando, which I had never heard of before. She looked it up and sure enough, from the mid-80s to the 90’s there was the Queen Kumquat Sashay each year downtown! (Thank you, Ginger!)

The Queen Kumquat Sashay

I have my own personal story about kumquats, which I feel is also relevant. As a lot of us southern girls like to call people by sweet names, I am also guilty. I had a workmate who always gave me a hard time, and it was miserable to have to argue with him every day to accomplish my job. I decided I HAD to do something to learn to like him or I’d never get past it so every time I talked to him, I’d call him sugar or honey or sweetie. I talked to him a LOT so i had to start coming up with other names and it kind of became a game to us. (But it was working, the atmosphere was less tense.) One day I called him my little kumquat, and we both burst out laughing. It was just too much! After that we became friends. It was a silly thing but as I said earlier, it really is fun to say! Give it a try!

I hope you enjoyed your lesson on kumquats and loquats and also the Kumquat Sashay and how a little humor can defuse a tense situation!