Can you guess what these are? I'll give you couple clues: they're in the citrus family, but they're not oranges, mandarins, tangerines, or clementines!

These lovely little fruits are kumquats. The main difference between them and other citrus fruits is in their small size, and the way they grow. They grow in China, Korea, SE Asia, some parts of Europe, the Middle East, and the Southern US, and are much more tenacious than other citrus fruits.

The cool thing about kumquats is that you eat them whole. The flesh is quite sour, but the rind is sweet and full of flavour, and you can do so many different things with them!

Here are five cool uses for kumquats:

1. Make a liqueur by slicing kumquats and submerging them in vodka for at least two weeks. If you'd rather, prick the kumquats instead of slicing, and leave them in the vodka for a month. Remove the kumquats and serve with cocktail forks as a snack at a cocktail party.
2. Try out this recipe from Epicurious for Orange Cheesecake with Candied Kumquats.
3. Having company? Check out this recipe for Toffee Kumquat Pudding from Martha Stewart.
4. The perfect refresher for a hot day (and it's fat free!): Kumquat Sorbet.
5. Add this Kumquat Salsa to tacos (especially fish or chicken!), or eat with tortilla chips.

Have you ever tried a kumquat? What's your favourite way to use them in a dish?