Dade City Kumquat Festival - Exploring Florida and More

For anyone who does not know what a Kumquat is (there are quite a few people), the Dade City Kumquat Festival is the perfect place to introduce yourself to the tart little fruit. Let us start with the first and most important thing to know about a Kumquat. It does NOT taste like an orange. Even though it might look like a miniature version of the citrus treat, and its texture may resemble an orange, if you bite into it expecting the burst of that sweet and juicy tang we associate with most varieties of mandarins, you may suffer a food shock of epic proportions.

Unlike oranges, the fruit of the Kumquat is very sour, and the seeds are bitter. The fruit is the size of a large olive. You eat the entire thing, skin, and all. There is a reason. The Kumquat’s skin is the sweet part of the fruit. You need that sweetness from the skin to balance out the tartness from the flesh. Together, they form a unique experience that is loved by many and loathed by others. Yet, the Kumquat has become popular enough to have its own festival which is certainly worth checking out on a cool day in late January.

Where is the Festival

The Kumquat Festival takes place on the last Saturday of January in Dade City just north of Zephyrhills in eastern Pasco County. It takes place the same day as the big Gasparilla pirate invasion in downtown Tampa. If you are looking for an alternative to pirate mayhem, the Kumquat Festival is a suitable alternative. It is not necessarily the place you would spend an entire day, but two to four hours is enough time to enjoy the atmosphere, not to mention the delectable Kumquat treats.

Downtown Dade city is transformed for one day into rows of craft vendors, market stalls, mini nurseries, antique shops, a kid’s zone, but most importantly…food! From your typical giant fair-sized chili dog to a savory crab cake sandwich, there is a little bit for every taste. And speaking of taste, look for everything Kumquat.

What to look for at the Festival

Maybe start with a sample of kumquat honey. After that, grab a draft beer brewed with kumquats. There is a place to get kumquat jam with habanero peppers which is quite tasty, kumquat syrup, kumquat wine, kumquat ice cream and kumquat sauces like spicy sauces and BBQ. To make sure the kumquat remains the star of the festival with so many other temptations to steal its thunder, they set up a central location where you can purchase all things kumquat including containers of the fruit in all its glory. If you do nothing else while you are at the festival, the kumquat pie is a MUST. The pie has the tartness of a key lime pie, but with more of an orange flavor. It is simply delicious!

Native to China, there are many varieties of kumquats throughout the world. In Florida, you will find the Oval Kumquat. One tree can produce hundreds of fruits in a single season. More mature trees can even produce into the thousands. As one of the more obscure members of the citrus family, we should all be appreciative that Dade City sets aside one day a year to honor this special morsel. Whereas that brings us to the next and most important thing to know about kumquats, how to eat them.

How to Eat a Kumquat

Your first temptation may be to pop in your mouth like a grape. Some may want to test the water by biting it in half before committing to the full ordeal. The latter is a mistake. You must eat the kumquat in one bite, but there is a method to really get the maximum flavor. Remember, the skin is sweet, the fruit is sour, and the seeds are bitter. You need a balance for the flavor to dance perfectly in your mouth. First, gently roll the kumquat between the palm of your hands to activate the oils in the skin. Then, pop it in your mouth. Chew slowly. Let the flavors work off of one another. If you chew too quickly, you will only get the sourness and bitterness. The sweetness comes on the back side. Only then can you appreciate the kumquat for the amazing fruit that it is.

Why go through all this trouble for something so inconsequential when there are so many alternatives that do not require as much effort? The kumquat produces some particularly important health benefits. They are loaded with vitamin A and C, fiber, and antioxidants. The lower blood sugar which held with diabetes. They help with stress, boost your immune system, and lower cholesterol. They may even help with skin, eyes, and hair care. And they are good for your bones and digestion. The kumquat is a basically a little miracle fruit.