Origin: Kiwi fruit natively belongs to the Yangtze River valley of northern China and Zhejiang Province on the coast of eastern China. Earlier in the Chinese province, the kiwi was also known as named Mihou Tao and Yang Tao, which means ‘sunny peach’. The first seeds were brought by missionaries in China and were sent to New Zealand. Many people back in New Zealand explored the potential of the fruit and started cultivating it. Ever since then it became a popular fruit, relished by all ages. From there, it spread to the USA.
Kiwi was first exported to the United States in 1904. The major kiwi producing countries are New Zealand, China, Italy, South Africa, and Chile. History reveals that at the beginning of the 20th century, a missionary named Isabel Frasier brought this fruit from China to New Zealand after she visited mission schools in China. Around 1906, many nurserymen started harvesting this fruit in New Zealand. Kiwi was named Kiwi by a firm in Auckland. It is also known as Chinese gooseberry.
Scientifically: Botanically called Actinidia Deliciosa, Kiwi is a sweet-sour juicy fruit. It is categorized as a berry and belongs to the genus Actinidia. It has light brown skin and light green to golden flesh with tiny, black, edible seeds. Kiwi has oval, ovoid or oblong in shape. This is usually vine or climbing shrub and grows in well-drained soil. Kiwi needs a large volume of water to cultivate.
Usage: Kiwi is favored by all age groups and adds vibrant color to desserts and fruit bowls. It is eaten as a dessert fruit or is used to make pies, pastries, cakes, smoothies. Kiwi is known as a powerhouse of nutrients. It is rich in vitamin C and antioxidants.
It helps in boosting immunity, fights free radicals and improves skin texture. It is also known to induce sleep or correct sleeping disorders. It is believed that having 2-3 kiwis 2 hours before going to bed can induce sleep. As it is a fiber-rich fruit, it helps in improving heart health, digestion and blood pressure. It also helps in improving skin and hair, giving you a youthful appearance. It also contains omega 3 fatty acids, carotenoids, polyphenols which are beneficial to the human body.
Below are some DIYs with Kiwi:
- Take a few slices of kiwi and rub them on the face. You can also mash the pulp and apply on the face for 10 minutes. This helps in providing all the essential nutrients to the skin and makes the face brighter.
- Take one tablespoon of kiwi puree and a tablespoon of yogurt. Mix them together and apply on the face and neck. Leave it on for 15 minutes and then rinse. This remedy rejuvenates and replenishes the skin cells.
- Take 1 tablespoon of kiwi puree, 1 teaspoon of ground almonds and a teaspoon of gram flour. Mix all the ingredients together into a thick paste. Apply this mask for 10 minutes and rinse it off in a scrubbing motion. This helps in gently removing dead skin.
- Extract some fresh kiwi juice and add 2-3 tablespoon of amla juice to it. Combine them together and massage on the hair scalp. Leave it on for 30 minutes. This helps in cleasnsing the scalp and making the roots strong.
- Take a kiwi and half an avocado. Scoop out the pulp and mash them together. Add a teaspoon of honey and apply thick layers of it. Kepp it on for 15 minutes. Later, massage and rinse it off. This remedy helps in deep moisturizing the skin.
- Mash one strawberry and a kiwi together. Add few drops of lemon to it. Mix and apply on the face. This remedy helps in fighting acne and reduces the size of zits.