Kiwifruit

The kiwifruit is a sweet green-fleshed fruit with furry brown skin which is rich in Vitamin C (it contains twice as much as an orange!) and Vitamin E. Kiwifruit grows on vines and thrives in warmer parts of New Zealand.

Originally from China and known as a Chinese gooseberry, the fruit was renamed when New Zealand began growing and exporting it in the 1950s. The name kiwifruit was chosen so that it would be associated with New Zealand, as the kiwi bird is New Zealand’s national symbol and Kiwi is also a colloquial name for New Zealanders.

Te Puke – Kiwifruit Capital of the World

Today, 62 countries import about 100 million trays of New Zealand kiwifruit, of which 90 percent are grown around Te Puke; making this the Kiwifruit Capital of the World! This small New Zealand town in the Bay of Plenty celebrates the fruit with the tourist attraction Kiwi 360 where you can learn everything about the New Zealand icon. Take an orchard tour in a KiwiKart, browse the massive gift shop for kiwifruit beauty products, take your picture next to the giant kiwifruit and sample different varieties of the juicy New Zealand delicacy!

Kiwifruit Pavlova Recipe

Would you like to create a traditional New Zealand dessert which uses the kiwifruit? How about Pavlova, a meringue dessert? Aussies will tell you it’s Australian, but it’s not – especially if you decorate it with slices of succulent kiwifruit!

You’ll need:

* 3 egg whites
* 1 tsp vinegar
* 3 tbsp cold water
* 1 tsp vanilla essence
* 1 cup castor sugar
* 3 tsp cornflour
* whipped cream
* kiwifruit slices to decorate your Pavlova

Preheat oven to 150°C. Beat egg whites until stiff, add cold water and beat again. Add castor sugar very gradually while still beating. Slow beater and add vinegar, vanilla and cornflour. Place the mixture on greased paper on a greased tray and put into the oven for 45 minutes. Leave to cool in the oven. When finished, decorate it with whipped cream and kiwifruit and enjoy a typical New Zealand dessert!