The kiwi, also known as the "Chinese gooseberry", is the fruit of the Actinidia, a sturdy, prolific vine that originated in China.
Discovered in the Yang Tsé Kiang valley, this fruit was considered to be life-giving and was originally called "Yang Tao" (Yang peach) or "Mihou Tao" (Monkey peach).
It was not until 1960 that the New-Zealanders called it “kiwi” from the Maori word for their country’s iconic bird.
The key is to find a balance between suppleness and firmness! Supple under finger pressure for a sweet, melt-in-the-mouth fruit, or firmer for a sharper-tasting fruit.
Buy them while they’re still firm and leave them in a fruit bowl with some apples to ripen at room temperature.
Real cocktails of vitamins, their reputation goes before them!
They’re an excellent way of keeping fit and getting through the winter without mishaps.
A kiwi = 47 Kcal
Nutritional values of kiwis
Proteins : 1.1g
Lipids : 0.6g
Carbohydrates : 10g
Their vitamin C content is a remarkable 80 mg/100g, higher than citrus fruit! One kiwi on its own provides the recommended daily intake of vitamin C.
Kiwis also provide a significant quantity of vitamin E (3 mg/100g), which is mainly found in its tiny seeds.
Its vitamins A and E have a powerful antioxidant activity, which helps prevent cardio-vascular diseases and certain cancers.
Kiwis also provide a wide range of group B vitamins, especially vitamin B9 (folic acid), which is anti-anaemic.
Finally, kiwis are rich in minerals (especially potassium: 300 mg/100g) and fibre (2.5g/100g) which gently stimulate intestinal transit.
