Rainbow Red Kiwi
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Description/Taste
Rainbow Red kiwis are small fruits that have an oval to ovate shape with a distinct dent on the bottom of the fruit, a distinguishing factor between this specialty variety and other kiwi cultivars. The kiwi’s surface is smooth and velvety, containing less fuzz than green kiwis, and has a delicate, thin nature. The skin also has a dark olive-green hue, covered in a light brown speckled coating. Underneath the surface, the flesh is soft, tender, aqueous, and bright green just below the skin, fading into a golden yellow hue and dotted with tiny black seeds. In the center of the flesh, there is a vibrant red to crimson sunburst, also known as a red iris, showcasing thin scarlet streaks surrounding a white oval epicenter. Rainbow Red kiwis are known for their high sugar content, sometimes averaging as high as 17 Brix, and lack the tangy, sour flavors commonly associated with green kiwi. The fruits have a candy-like sweetness combined with fruity, sweet berry, and tropical flavors.
Seasons/Availability
Rainbow Red kiwis are seasonally available in the fall in Japan. The fruits are also grown through farms worldwide, allowing the fruits to be exported to some markets for year-round availability.
Current Facts
Rainbow Red kiwis, botanically classified as Actinidia chinensis, are a specialty kiwi belonging to the Actinidiaceae family. The tender fruits are customarily sold ripe and ready to eat and are favored by kiwi enthusiasts for their unusual appearance and sweet flavor. Rainbow Red kiwis are offered through several companies worldwide under names such as ENZARed kiwis, Hong Yang kiwis, Dong Hong kiwis, Red Sun kiwi fruit, Oriental Red©, Red Rainbow kiwi, and Rainbow Red Heart kiwis. This type of kiwi is rarer in commercial markets compared to green or gold kiwis and is known for its candy-like sweetness, lacking tart undertones generally associated with common kiwis. The fruits also have a tropical flavor, primarily consumed fresh in preparations to add sweetness and a creamy consistency.
Nutritional Value
Rainbow Red kiwis are a source of vitamin C to strengthen the immune system and fiber to regulate the digestive tract. The fruits also contain vitamin E to protect the cells against free radical damage, vitamin A to maintain healthy organ functioning, vitamin K to assist in faster wound healing, potassium to balance fluid levels within the body, and other amounts of magnesium, folate, and calcium.
Applications
Rainbow Red kiwis have a sweet flavor with tropical undertones well suited for fresh preparations. The kiwis can be sliced in half and consumed straight, out of hand, scooping the flesh with a spoon, or they can be peeled and sliced into green salads, fruit mixes, or grain bowls. Rainbow Red kiwis can also be cut into decorative shapes and displayed on appetizer platters, used as a topping over cakes and chia puddings, stirred into yogurt, or blended into smoothies. The kiwi's sweet, visually pleasing nature allows it to be incorporated into the center of baked goods such as cakes and muffins. Try placing a whole, peeled Rainbow Red kiwi into the center of a hollowed cake filled with cream, so when the cake is sliced, solid rings of kiwi flesh are displayed at the center of the cake. Rainbow Red kiwis can also be frozen and blended into sorbet, chopped and prepared as a simple side dish, or sliced and layered on toast. Rainbow Red kiwis pair well with other fruits such as raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, apricots, nectarines, and melons, almonds, pumpkin seeds, granola, quinoa, endive, avocado, and meats such as steak, prosciutto, and poultry. Rainbow Red kiwis should be immediately consumed for the best quality and flavor. The fruits are sold ripe and ready to eat and will only keep for a few days. They can also be frozen for extended use.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
In Japan, Rainbow Red kiwis are grown in limited quantities in the city of Yame within the Fukuoka Prefecture. Fukuoka is known as one of the top prefectures for producing fruits in the country and has a suitable climate with fertile soil, excellent water drainage, and ample sunshine to encourage maximum sugar development within the kiwis. In Yame, Rainbow Red kiwis are meticulously monitored throughout their life cycle. When the trees blossom, growers will prune and hand-select each blossom along the branch to separate and produce healthy, larger fruits. Weaker blossoms or flowers deemed inadequate for developing quality fruits are removed, leaving only the blossoms with full growth potential. As the fruit matures, the kiwis are monitored using modern technology to scan and determine ripeness and sugar content. The farmers of Fukuoka also developed a machine to release ethylene gas to speed up the ripening process. The gas allows the Rainbow Red kiwi fruits to be ripe and ready to eat once they arrive at the market.
Geography/History
Kiwi varieties showcasing red sunburst rings are native to China, where there were two main varieties known as Dong Hong and Hong Yang. Dong Hong is found in the Yangtze River basin, while Hong Yang kiwis were grown in Chengdu within China's Sichuan Province. Experts believe the unique kiwis were produced from a wild Actinidia chinensis var. rufopulpa species, and the fruits were selected for research and evaluation around 1984, but the plants were not selected for commercial production until 2000. In the early 21st century, several companies worldwide began releasing their own versions of these kiwis under various names. In Japan, Rainbow Red kiwis are cultivated in the Fukuoka Prefecture of Japan, and the farms are mainly located in the city of Yame. The specialty kiwis were released to commercial markets in the early 21st century, and there are several farms and distributors that market the fruits as a locally grown product of Japan. Outside of Japan, red sunburst kiwis are known as ENZARed in New Zealand. ENZARed kiwis are grown by Turners & Growers and were first commercially cultivated in 2013. The company has also established global partnerships to produce the fruits worldwide in China, Italy, and Australia. Today Rainbow Red kiwis and the other types of red-ringed kiwis are exported worldwide and are grown in both hemispheres for year-round production. The kiwis can be found through select retailers and distributors in Asia, Europe, North America, New Zealand, and Australia.
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Rainbow Red Kiwi. One
is easiest, three is harder.| Go Raw |
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Red Kiwi Salad |
