Flavor Concept: Kiwi Varieties

Kiwis may seem like a simple single flavor; however, they are a diverse fruit category. Four kiwi varieties vary in sweetness, acidity, and color, among other things. Because of this, there are multiple opportunities to create unique flavor combinations.

Green Kiwis: 

Green kiwis are the most recognizable variety of kiwis, with fuzzy brown skin, green flesh, and black seeds. Their flavor profile is sweet-tart with a pronounced acidity. This makes them great for sour candies, beverages, or salads. If you are planning to add green kiwis to a dish with dairy, add them at the last minute. Green kiwis contain an enzyme (actinidin) that rapidly breaks down dairy. 

• 

• 

Golden Kiwis:

Golden kiwis popped up in the 1990s and 2000s and are notably different from the green variety. The skin is smooth and brown, the flesh is yellow-to-gold, and it leans sweeter than green kiwis. These kiwis have way less of the enzyme (actinidin) that breaks down dairy. Because of this, golden kiwis are perfect for dairy and tropical beverages like smoothies, as well as any dessert you want to add fruit to. 

• 

• 

Red Kiwis:

Like golden kiwis, red kiwis have smooth, brown skin; however, the flesh is reddish-pink to reddish-purple. Red kiwis are also great for desserts with dairy because they contain little to no actinidin. These kiwis are sweet and berry-like in flavor. Red kiwis have been popularized in the last few years. These kiwis are great for colorful desserts, beverages, and confections. 

Hardy Kiwi/Kiwiberry:

These kiwis are small and are eaten whole because of their thin, edible skin. Because of this, these kiwis have a different texture than regular kiwis, as you typically don’t eat the skin of other kiwi varieties. Hardy kiwis are great for snacking, salads, fruit smoothies, and jams. 

Comparison Table:

Note: The sweetness and acidity levels are averages, as ripeness can affect them.

Variety:	Sweetness:	Acidity:	Texture:
Green Kiwi	Low	High	Tender, moist, lightly firm
Golden Kiwi	Medium	Medium	Smooth, delicate, tender
Red Kiwi	High	Low	Tinder, juicy, delicate
Hardy Kiwi	Medium-high	Medium	Chewy, grape-like

Tips for cooking/baking with kiwis: 

Green Kiwis will lose their vibrant color and vitamin C when cooked. However, cooking kiwis also breaks down the enzyme (actinidin), allowing you to bake kiwi with dairy and gelatin. 

Golden kiwis will lose their texture when cooked down, becoming a jammy paste. 

Red kiwis are best fresh, as the color and texture will change when cooked. Because of this, they are best in beverages and frozen treats.

Hardy kiwis are high in natural pectin, so they are great for jams and compotes, as well as fresh eating.

Let’s break this down a bit more by looking over some types of dishes.

Cakes and cupcakes. Add fresh kiwi to the center of a cake or fold it into the frosting. 

• Green Kiwi 

  • Gives a cake a nice tart- sweet taste.

• Golden Kiwi

  • Gives an even sweetness for the whole cake.

• Red Kiwi

  • Gives a nice pop of color to a cake or cupcake.

Cheesecakes are dairy-based, so green kiwis are not a good fit unless you make a green kiwi compote to break down the enzyme (actinidin) and drizzle it on top.

• Golden Kiwi

  • Golden kiwis are by far the best kiwis for cheesecake, whether you make a compote or add the kiwis fresh.

• Red Kiwi

  • Red kiwis add to the sweetness of a cheesecake and are best mixed in with other fruits.

You can add kiwis to muffins to make a tropical muffin. Just note that the colors will be muted.

• Green Kiwi

  • The most commonly found type of kiwi for muffins.

• Golden Kiwi

  • Great if you want a sweeter muffin.

• Red Kiwi

  • Also great if you want a sweeter muffin. You can make kiwi-strawberry muffins and keep the fruit the same color.

Smoothies are great for every type of kiwifruit, so long as you are making a fruit smoothie and not one with a dairy base.

• Golden Kiwi

  • Gives a nice sweetness and won’t change the color of the smoothie.

• Green Kiwi

  • Most commonly found in smoothies, they add a tart flavor that pairs well with berries. 

• Red Kiwi

  • Also adds sweetness.

• Hardy Kiwi

  • It can be blended whole and has a sweet-tart taste.

Kiwis make great jams, sauces, and compotes; remember to always peel the fruit before starting. You will need to add pectin to all four, though the ratios will be different.

• Hardy Kiwi

  • These have the most pectin, and unlike other types, you don’t have to peel them.

• Red Kiwi

  • With their sweet berry-like flavor, red kiwis are perfect for adding to a strawberry or raspberry jam.

• Green Kiwi

  • If you are into tart things, then green kiwis are perfect. 

• Golden Kiwi

  • If you are into sweet things, then golden kiwis are the way to go.

Kiwis pair very well with beef. Because of the enzyme (actinidin) in kiwis, they make a great tenderizer for beef. So if you're feeling adventurous, make some kiwi beef with these varieties. 

• Green Kiwi

• Golden Kiwi

• Hardy Kiwi

All four varieties of kiwis are great for eating fresh. Green kiwis are the tartest, while golden and red kiwis are the sweetest. Hardy kiwis also lean on the tart side and can be eaten whole.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How to freeze kiwis? To freeze kiwis, peel and slice them, place them evenly on a parchment-paper-lined pan, and freeze for a few hours. Once the slices have frozen, transfer them to a freezer bag.

How to store sliced kiwis in the fridge? Place the slices into an airtight container. If you would like, pour in at least 1 tsp of lemon juice to prevent browning.

How long do kiwis last in the freezer? For the best quality, kiwis will last for 3 months in the freezer. However, they can last up to 12 months if properly stored. After a while, the texture and flavor will start to break down in the freezer. There is also freezer burn to look out for.

How long do kiwi slices last in the fridge? Sliced kiwis will last in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.

How long do whole kiwis last in the fridge? Whole ripe kiwis will last in the fridge for 5 to 7 days. However, unripe kiwis will last about 2 to 4 weeks, depending on how unripe they are.

Blend kiwis into smoothies and other sweet dishes. Create kiwi desserts by adding honey or mint to cakes and candies. Now that you have a better understanding of kiwi varieties and their uses. Above all else, have fun experimenting with sweet and savory orange combinations.