The kumquat has much more to offer than just a spunky name. One of the most unusual things about these bite-size orbs is that you eat the fruit peel, the sweet part. This makes them an easy grab-and-go snack.  Because you eat the peel, you can tap into the rich stores of antioxidants and other plant compounds found there. The vitamin C and plant compounds in kumquats can help support your immune system. Some of these may even help protect against obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers, though more human research is needed. If you haven’t yet tried kumquats, look for them starting around November and into the next several months. They just might become one of your new favorite fruits.

Kumquats are a citrus fruit native to China that looks like tangerines or oranges but is eaten differently. It come in various sizes, and they’re egg-shaped and roughly a half-inch long and wide, resembling large grapes or olives. The entire fruit is edible, unlike other citrus kinds. The kumquat’s exterior is pleasant, but the juice and flesh are pretty sour. It’s no surprise that kumquats are the “inside-out orange.” “Natural sour patch kids,” as one friend put it.