Fuzzy on the outside, and light green on the inside, the kiwifruit is one of the most popular around the globe. Its slightly sour taste blended with the right amount of sweetness is likely to make you salivate while carefully scooping the pulp with a spoon.

Although 'kiwis' share the name of New Zealand's native, flightless bird and the nickname for its people, the fruit actually originated in China. 

This delicious fruit with a tropical appearance was first cultivated in central China's Hubei Province. It was brought to New Zealand and was widely cultivated there in the early 20th century. This tasty fruit later became a major agricultural commodity and was spread all over the world.

The name 'kiwifruit' comes from New Zealand's national treasure: the kiwi bird. However, in China, the fruit is referred to as "macaque fruit" ("Mi Hou Tao" in Mandarin) as in the the macaque monkey. It is interesting how people from both countries named the fruit after fluffy animals.

The kiwifruit flower is small and white. It usually blooms in May and June, and has a light sweet scent. The fruiting period comes later from August to October, and the ripe kiwifruit is usually the size of a hen's egg. Rows of tiny, black, edible seeds are found in the center of the fruit.

Kiwifruit is rich in vitamin C and vitamin K, which make it an important food in almost every healthy diet. There are around 60 species of kiwifruit around the world now. 

In 2018, around two million tons of kiwifruit were produced in China, accounting for more than 50 percent of the world's kiwifruit production. China is also the country with the largest volume of kiwifruit consumption in the world.

China's Flora Tour

From the wetlands along the coast to the dense rainforests hidden in the southwest, China boasts an array of plant species. In this series, CGTN goes on a tour to learn about some of the most iconic flora in different provinces and see how they live in harmony with the local climate and topography. 

(Cover photo via VCG, designed by CGTN's Du Chenxin.)

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at nature@cgtn.com)