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Kumquat
Fortunella margarita, JIN JU
The kumquat, jin ju (gold
tangerine) is also called gan ju (sweet tangerine). It is an evergreen tree
or shrub growing to a height of 2-3 meters. The fruit is oval or egg shaped,
25-35 mm long and 20-25 mm in diameter. The surface is smooth and covered
with oil pores. It ripens at the end of autumn and the beginning of winter.
The immature fruit is green and changes to golden yellow when ripe, with a
fragrant perfume. The flavor is sweet or acid-sweet. The flavor of the
skin is also sweet or acid-sweet with the peppery-pungent fragrance of
orange oil. There are a number of seeds in the fruit.
The fruit's flavor is pungent, sweet, and slightly acid, its nature is
warm.
The fruit can loosen phlegm, ease coughing, help regulate the flow of vital
energy and benefit the spleen. It contains carbohydrates, vitamin C,
volatile oil, glucoside, etc.
APPLICATIONS
1. COUGH ASSOCIATED WITH OLD AGE; CHILL LEADING TO COUGH. Take 5-10 pieces
of fresh fruit, including skin, wash clean and eat. Alternatively add 30
grams of sugar, cover with water and steam in a sealed container for half an
hour then eat. Do this every day 2-3 times.
2. INDIGESTION; STOMACH SWOLLEN AND PAINFUL. Take 2-3 pieces of fresh fruit,
including the skin, wash clean and eat. Do this both in the morning and
again in the evening.
3. WHOOPING COUGH IN SMALL CHILDREN. Take 3-5 pieces of fresh or dried
fruit, and the larynx of a duck (obtain this when killing a duck
for the table). Add 5 slices of fresh ginger, cover with water and simmer.
Drink the liquid and eat the fruit. Do this 3 times a day.
4. STOMACH PAIN. Take 30 pieces of dried fruit, cover with water and simmer.
Divide into 3 portions, and take one on rising, one at midday and one before
going to bed. Do this for 10 days.
5. HERNIA, PAINFUL. Take 10 pieces of dried fruit, crush, add equal parts of
water and rice wine*, steam and serve. Do this both in the morning and in
the evening. (*Japanese sake can be used. Ed.)
6. LOSS OF APPETITE CAUSED BY COMMON COLD; LOSS OF APPETITE AFTER A CAR OR
BOAT RIDE. Take 30 grams of candied kumquat (see below) and slowly chew.
PREPARATION
1. DRIED KUMQUAT. Take the fresh fruit and dry it in the sun.
2. CANDIED KUMQUAT. Take the fresh fruit and leave in the sun until it is
half dry. Then prepare a syrup by boiling together water and sugar. Place
the partly dried fruit in the syrup and leave to soak. This is called
candied kumquat.
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