How to Cut a Kiwifruit
I have learned so much about Kiwis since moving to New Zealand. Primarily, I’ve learned that a) I’ve been calling them the wrong name and b) I’ve been eating them the wrong way since the beginning of time. So let’s break this down.
Kiwifruit, not Kiwi. There’s kiwi - as in the bird - which is lower case and the same word for both singular and plural references.
Example: Look! There’s one kiwi running under that bush. Oh wait, another! Two kiwi!
Then there is Kiwi, as in someone from New Zealand. This word is capitalized, and the plural version gets an “s” on the end.
Example: I’m going to the beach with a group of Kiwis. We’re all going to picnic together.
Then, there is kiwifruit, though in the US we simply abbreviate it to “kiwi.” The distinction between kiwi and kiwifruit is more important here
Example: Check out this delicious kiwifruit I’m eating for dessert.
Kiwifruit come in an array of colors. The typical kiwifruit has a hairy brown outer layer and a lime green interior. These are good, but they don’t hold a candle to the more delicious golden kiwifruit that have a smoother skin and a yellow interior. In my humble opinion, goldens are the greatest kiwis of all.
Scoop a kiwi, don’t cut. In the US, the only way I prepared kiwifruit was first by peeling off the skin, then slicing the fruit into round discs. Oh how wrong I was. A babysitter taught me the “proper” way to eat a kiwifruit in New Zealand, and I discovered that packs of kiwis often come with a handy little tool to complete the kiwi eating experience. It has a serrated handle for cutting and a spoon end for scooping. It is simple:
Step 1: Wash the fruit.
Step 2: Cut the fruit in half the short way
Step 3: Using a spoon, scoop out the meet of the fruit and eat in one bite.
Is your mind blown like mine was? I had no idea!
