Ever wondered what is a golden kiwi? Find interesting facts about this popular, vibrant fruit, from its history to recipes to make with golden kiwi.
With fall coming to an end and winter just right around the corner, it’s easy to miss the bright flavors of summer fruits.
If you’re craving a refreshing bite in these cold months, we’ve got you covered!
You can enjoy the taste of summer with golden kiwi!
Chances are, you’re already familiar with the typical green kiwi.
Did you know that this fuzzy fruit has a golden variety?
Golden kiwi is known for its smooth skin, oblong shape, soft texture, and succulently sweet, tart flavor.
Since they’re now grown in California, you can find this juicy berry almost year-round in local supermarkets.
You can spot it in the produce section due to its distinctive look.
Golden kiwi may not be as well-known as its green relative, but it’s worth a try!
You can simply slice, scoop, and eat golden kiwi as it is, or use it in overnight oats or golden kiwi muffins!
Keep reading to learn all about the incredibly delicious golden kiwi, along with a few of the best recipes you can make with it.
If you’re still making up your mind about it, stay tuned until the end—golden kiwi might just be your new favorite fruit!
What is a golden kiwi?
What is a golden kiwi?
Well, it’s exactly what it sounds like.
Golden kiwi is a yellow version of the green kiwi.
And it does have the same brown skin like “regular” kiwi.
The “golden” part refers to the vibrant yellow flesh of golden kiwi.
In technical terms, golden kiwi is called Actinidia chinensis, a member of the Actinidiaceae family.
Actinidia species are flowering plants characterized by their woody climbing vines, fleshy fruit texture, and long fruit maturation period.
The golden variety is a fruit developed by Zespri, a New Zealand company that produces all kinds of kiwi.
Just like regular green kiwi, golden kiwi grows on long vines.
They take a long time to grow and mature—around 204 days!
The wait is well worth it because golden kiwi is unbelievably luscious with a spot-on balance of sweetness and acidity.
Where do golden kiwis come from?
Kiwi is a fruit with a fascinating history.
Native to mainland China and Taiwan, this kiwifruit used to be considered exotic before it became commonplace in groceries in the US.
A school principal brought seeds to New Zealand from China, and the fruit became a significant export of the country.
Did you know that US consumers first hesitated to try kiwi because of its old name, Chinese gooseberry?
To boost sales in the US, growers in New Zealand changed its name to the name we all know now.
From there, golden kiwis are a commercial breed developed in New Zealand using green kiwis.
They are created by carefully selecting ideal kiwi plants and breeding them to produce a kiwi with a bright yellow flesh and a sweetness similar to nectar.
Golden kiwis thrive best in areas with extra-fertile soil, lots of rain, and a great deal of sunlight.
They can also grow well in the warm California sun, but it’s not as common as green kiwi.
Because of this, most golden kiwis found in the produce section are grown by farmers in New Zealand.
What does a golden kiwi taste like?
Once you taste your first golden kiwi, you’ll want it more and more!
Golden kiwi has creamy flesh like a very ripe peach taste that’s wonderfully complemented by just the right amount of acidity.
According to golden kiwi producer Zespri, the kiwi has a flavor profile that can be characterized as a mix of mango and strawberry, so a tropical taste with a berry-like flavor.
An underrated aspect of golden kiwi is its juiciness.
If you take a bite out of one, you’ll notice that a large amount of juice just gushes out of the flesh, covering your taste buds with a concentrated, sweet kiwi flavor.
Golden kiwi vs green kiwi
Golden kiwi and the usual green kiwi are close relatives with plenty of similarities.
They have a lot of different qualities as well, and it’s not just their color!
From the outside, it may not be easy to see the difference between golden kiwi vs green kiwi, especially if you’re not familiar with the two types of kiwi.
You can quickly tell them apart with your eyes if you know what you’re looking for.
Both kiwis have brown skin, but only green kiwi is covered in a light layer of fuzz.
Golden kiwi, on the other hand, has smooth, fuzz-free skin.
Golden kiwi skin is also a lot more sour, I’ve found.
Identifying which kiwi is which is more straightforward once you slice them up.
Green kiwi has green flesh dotted with black seeds, while golden kiwi has a lively yellow color and fewer seeds.
When it comes to tropical flavor, golden kiwi has the edge over its green counterpart.
It has a more intense sweetness and a pleasant tangy aroma.
So if you’re looking to try kiwi, going for the golden kind is probably the best move to get you started.
How to know when a golden kiwi is ripe
The flavor of golden kiwi depends on its level of ripeness.
The more ripe the fruit, the sweeter and juicier it is.
Knowing the difference between a ripe golden kiwi and an unripe one is essential.
Kiwifruit can take a few days to ripen, so buying unripe ones right before you plan to serve them can be a bit of a bummer.
Fortunately, you can avoid the hassle entirely by knowing a few telltale signs of the ripeness of golden kiwi.
There’s nothing to it!
All you have to do is gently press the body of the fruit to test its firmness.
Ripe golden kiwi should feel quite soft to the touch but not squishy.
The golden kiwi should taste fantastic and be ready to wow your guests at that stage!
It would help to avoid kiwis that have bruised or wrinkled skin and those that are too squishy to the point the skin breaks when handled.
You can also tell if a kiwi is ripe using your sense of smell.
A ripe kiwi will usually give off a pleasant fruity aroma, while an unripe one will have a neutral odor.
How to store golden kiwi
Proper storage is the key to enjoying golden kiwi at its peak level of ripeness and flavor.
Thankfully, although we can’t stop nature from doing its thing, storage techniques can give us some control.
Unripe golden kiwi should be kept at room temperature, away from direct sunlight, so on your countertop in the open air is best. BUT…
…once your golden kiwi are ripe, and the flesh gives when squeezed gently, they should be moved to the produce door of your refrigerator so they stay fresh longer.
This works best for firm golden kiwi you plan to use in two to three days.
Want a life hack?
Store golden kiwi with apples and bananas for even faster ripening.
Ripe golden kiwis should be stored in the refrigerator to give you more time before they become overripe.
The trick of using apples and bananas also works in reverse, so store them separately if you want golden kiwis to ripen slowly.
Here’s how to store golden kiwi:
Tools needed:
- Golden kiwi
- Refrigerator
- Airtight container, zip-top plastic bag
Instructions for storing golden kiwi:
- Place unripe kiwi on a countertop or at room temperature, preferably away from direct sunlight.
- Once ripened, transfer the ripe kiwi to an airtight container or zip-top plastic bag.
- Store the sealed fruit in the refrigerator.
Ways to use golden kiwis
Once golden kiwis hit the ideal ripeness, there’s nothing else left to do but enjoy them!
There are a ton of ways to use golden kiwis.
The most simple of them all is eating it raw.
You can’t go wrong with just slicing the fruit in half and scooping the inside out with a spoon.
This may surprise you, but you can eat the skin of a golden kiwi!
Yes, you can take a bite out of the whole fruit like you would an apple.
Just wash and dry your golden kiwi first.
Raw preparation methods will give you the pure taste of golden kiwi.
But this fruit can do a whole lot more!
Here are our recommendations on ways to use golden kiwi:
For golden kiwi overnight oats, you first need to peel the kiwi with a knife or a peeler.
The kiwi is then cut up into chunks and then blended.
The kiwi puree is placed in a large glass jar and topped with the other ingredients.
Golden kiwi is mashed and mixed with flour to create a smooth muffin batter.
The tartness of the kiwi is the star of this dessert.
Try this one for a baked treat!
Unpeeled golden kiwi is cut up and scooped into a bowl before mixing with the other ingredients.
Turning golden kiwi into jam makes it even sweeter, and it also preserves the fruit.
Honey is used in this recipe, but you can use maple syrup or other substitutes.
This one’s a feast for your eyes, too!
Golden kiwis are naturally sweet, so they work well with tart blueberries.
Make this recipe your own by adding any fruits you like!
If you have your hands full with a lot of golden kiwis and you don’t have enough mouths to eat them all, dehydrating them might be a good option.
Dehydrated kiwis have a shelf life of around 5 years if you store them well.
You can enjoy the dehydrated chips as a quick snack, a cocktail garnish, or a dessert topping!
These are our Kiwi Cocktail recommendations, too!
The bottom line
Golden kiwis are not just yellow kiwis.
It’s not just about the color.
They are a fruit of their own with a special taste, look, texture, and other qualities.
If you find yourself wondering what a golden kiwi is, look no further than our blog to learn about its history and characteristics, as well as storage and preparation methods.
Here are even more kiwi recipes!
How To Store Golden Kiwi
Learn the best way to store ripe golden kiwi
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Ingredients
- Golden kiwi
- Refrigerator
- Airtight container or zip-top plastic bag
Instructions
- Place unripe kiwi on a countertop or at room temperature, preferably away from direct sunlight, to fully ripen.
- Once ripened, transfer the ripe kiwi to an airtight container or zip-top plastic bag.
- Store the sealed fruit in the refrigerator.
