Discovering these kiwi berries at my local supermarket was almost like spotting a fruit unicorn. Fuzz-less, mini kiwis?! Say it ain't so. I found these little cuties in the refrigerated section of the produce department, right next to the packaged blueberries and raspberries. As soon as I spotted them, curiosity took over - what does a kiwi berry taste like? Does the center look like a kiwi; green and speckled with tiny black seeds? What is the texture and can I eat the outside skin? The only way to find out was to buy some and sweet talk them onto a snack plate so they could tell me all of their secrets.

I snacked and I researched, then I snacked some more. And the more I researched, the more I realized how new and exciting these kiwi berries are! Finding these mini berries at my local grocery store was a case of being at the right place, at the right time, in the right season. Right now, kiwi berries can be somewhat hard to find but know there is a growing movement of farmers and suppliers wanting to share their kiwi berries with the world! Which means you might get to discover these tiny, fur-less kiwis soon, too!

Mini Guide: Kiwi Berries

This kiwi berry mini guide will help you discover this deliciously mysterious tiny green fruit. They are tasty, nutritious, and perfectly poppable. Kiwi berries are becoming very popular but can be somewhat hard to find. Use this kiwi berry guide to help track them down, store them properly, incorporate into recipes, and experience their sweet flavor!

Kiwi Berry Season

Fall (US), February - April. (Southern Hemisphere Countries). In the US, kiwi berries are usually grown on smaller farms and sold at local farmers markets in the Fall, where as the larger more commercial kiwi berry farms will ship kiwi berries from February to April. So potentially, you can enjoy kiwi berries twice a year!

Did you know?

• Kiwi berries are also known as: Dessert kiwi, Grape kiwi, Cocktail kiwi, Northern kiwi, Arctic kiwi, Issai Hardy kiwi, Hardy kiwi, and Actinidia arguta.
• Kiwi berries originated in Japan, China, and Korea but today are mostly grown in the US by specialty hobbyists or smaller commercial farmers from countries in the Southern Hemisphere.
• It is really difficult to grow kiwi berries commercially because of their short shelf life and sporadic yield but new growing techniques are being used to make the kiwi berry more mainstream. New Zealand has some of the major exporting commercial kiwi berry farms.
• The average vine produces between 50-100 pounds of kiwi berries per year.
• There are more than 65 different kiwi berry species, varying in different shapes, colors, and flavors.
• Cats love kiwi berry vines! The vines have the same smell and effect as catnip and will tear up the vines and roots when they get a whiff of its hypnotizing aroma.

Can you eat the kiwi berry skin?

Yes! You can eat the entire kiwi berry, no peeling required. They are like bite-sized kiwi poppers! The skin also has extra fiber and nutrients, so eat away!

How do I store kiwi berries?

Kiwi berries have soft skins, so they are typically sold in similar containers as raspberries or blueberries. They can be left at room temperature for a few days but are best when refrigerated, lasting up to two weeks. You can also freeze kiwi berries and add them to smoothies.

Pro Tip: When purchasing kiwi berries, compare their shelf life to their origin. Some kiwi berries are grown in the US but most are from other countries like New Zealand. The longer the journey to get to your store, the shorter the shelf life they might have! - aka, devour sooner rather than later.

Culinary application

Complimenting flavors and ingredients: coconut, honey, lemon, lime, oranges, papaya, strawberries, champagne.

Nutrition Facts

Per 3.5 oz - Calories: 77, Carbohydrates: 18g, Fiber: 3g, Protein: 1.2g, Vitamin C: 93mg (112%), very high in antioxidants. Remember, a lot of the fiber and nutrients are in the edible skin!

Can't find kiwi berries in your local grocery store or farmers market? Check out Kiwi Berry Direct, Melissa's, or if you live in Pennsylvania, Weaver's Orchard lets you pick your own from September to October.

Have you tried a kiwi berry before? Spotted them at your local market and grocery stores? Let me know in the comments section, I would love to hear about it!

Research Sources: Did You Know?, Kiwi Berry Storage, Culinary application*, Nutrition Facts

*The Amazon products linked on this page are products I used to research the culinary flavors and uses of kiwi berries. If you purchase any of the items through the Amazon affiliate links I have provided, I receive a small commission on the items purchased. This in no way influences the items I recommend or raises the price of the items for you. I only add items to my posts that I use and think you will love just as much and I do!