This section starts with a question, is Kiwi a citrus fruit? In this section, you will come to whether is kiwi really citrus or not. The internal structure of kiwifruit consists of a central fleshy columella, an inner pericarp along with an outer fleshy pericarp, and the surface skin generally the so-called epicarp.
Actinidia deloiciosa Hayward is basically known as the most common cultivar group of Kiwifruit is an oval shape with the size of a large hen’s egg: 5-8 cm or 2-3 inches in length and 4.5-5.5 in diameter. In 1959 it was decided to give the name kiwifruit, on kiwi New Zealand’s national bird, because of its color with the kiwi bird.
Is Kiwi a citrus fruit
Kiwifruit may have some similar qualities to citrus fruit, but it is not a citrus fruit in the real sense. This is actually classed as a non-exotic citrus fruit. In common terms, kiwifruits are classified as berries. Berries are those fruits that have lots of seeds inside, such as watermelon, tomatoes, kiwi, grapes, and lemons. Watermelon belongs to a family of berries called pepos.
Reasons why people think that Kiwi is a citrus fruit
- One of the reasons that many people imagine that kiwi tends to grow in the same subtropical climate as a citrus fruit e.g. grapes fruits, oranges, and lemons
- Kiwi also is rich in vitamin C, which is abundantly present in other citrus fruits.
Is Kiwi a tropical fruit
Kiwi is a very sensitive berry fruit, as it cannot tolerate a temperature below 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Many consumers thought that it is a tropical fruit, but a standard kiwifruit found in your local areas is not a tropical fruit.
It requires a long growing season really over 200 days. Kiwifruits are strong and powerful vines that need a broad space to grow. Kiwifruit requires a lot of rain, an adequate quantity of water, plenty of sunshine, and extremely fertile soil to grow. It needs about one inch of water per week from May through September.
Benefits and advantages of Kiwifruit
Kiwifruit is rich in antioxidants (blocks the harmful effect of toxins), dietary fibers, vitamin C, and other essential nutrients that can nourish your body. This fruit can support digestive health, heart health, and immunity. Some of its benefits are described below:
- Very useful for the skin
- Good for weight watchers
- May prevent cancer
- May improve eyes health
- Supports immunity
- Good for heart health
- Fights against heart diseases
- Prevents clogging of arteries
- May help with asthma
- Good for digestive health
- Prevents blood clotting
- Helps to reduce stress
Disadvantages of Kiwifruit
Since you can get many benefits by consuming kiwifruit, but a more than necessary quantity may prove harmful for you. Some of the disadvantages of Kiwifruit are mentioned below:
- Can cause allergic reactions in people who are allergic to the fruit
- May cause trouble swallowing (dysphagia)
- Vomiting
- Breathing and circulatory complications
- Rashes and swelling
- Dermatitis
- Oral allergy syndrome OAS
- Pancreatitis (Swelling of the pancreas)
- Mouth and hives irritation
- Nausea
- Diarrhea