# Can't find Kumquats anywhere. Tariffs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 3, 2026, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-find-kumquats-anywhere-tariffs/1027344 "2026-02-03T17:52:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2026, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-find-kumquats-anywhere-tariffs/1027344/41 "2026-02-13T03:48:44Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > But I doubt that liquid nitrogen alone would get you something like this You are right; they seem to have added some kumquats, and maybe a few other ingredients. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2026, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-find-kumquats-anywhere-tariffs/1027344/42 "2026-02-13T03:53:02Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > Growing your own kumquats is the devil’s work I’m no expert, but I have seen kumquat trees and they are not supposed to be 3 feet tall with 5 kumquats on them, they are supposed to be 10+ feet tall and loaded with dozens of deep orange fruits. This is outdoors, not some sort of in vitro setup. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2026, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-find-kumquats-anywhere-tariffs/1027344/43 "2026-02-13T11:43:00Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > None of our fruit-producing trees are along the road, so no one helps themselves to our bounty In a previous life, I was married and we owned a house. It had an avocado tree in the back garden. It was exceptionally fruitful, to the extent we both started selling avocado’s and just giving them away to the homeless, there were just too many for us. I’ve also bumped into some guy on a long road trip, where he suggested we drop in on his Macadamia nut farm, and help ourselves - he was absent, but his farm manager was there. So many nuts. I currently live in a place with prickly pears Opuntia ficus-indica, a native to Mexico, but widely spread throughout the world. I am eagerly awaiting fruit season, so I can make pretty much the most exotic chilli sauce (that does not involve Dragonfruit - which also grows on a cactus) I can. There is Dragonfruit farm near me, so I have plan B ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2026, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-find-kumquats-anywhere-tariffs/1027344/44 "2026-02-13T11:51:52Z")
Oh, and back (sort of) on topic… I am something of a canning/preservation nerd, try whole kumquats & whole chillies in dark sherry. At least a year in the bottle. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2026, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-find-kumquats-anywhere-tariffs/1027344/45 "2026-02-13T16:35:22Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > I’m no expert, but I have seen kumquat trees and they are not supposed to be 3 feet tall with 5 kumquats on them, they are supposed to be 10+ feet tall and loaded with dozens of deep orange fruits. Well, I’m not expert either but according to sources who do know, container-grown kumquats produce excellent, high-quality fruit and are ideal for pots due to their compact size, cold hardiness, and self-pollinating nature. They thrive in containers, providing abundant, edible-skinned fruit, with harvests typically peaking between November and April. Kumquat trees typically grow 8 to 10 feet tall in the ground at maturity, but are often maintained at 4 to 6 feet with pruning or kept much smaller (3-6 feet). They are small, slow-growing evergreen trees, with some varieties potentially reaching 8-10 feet. So there is no “supposed to be” state for kumquat trees. They are grown from seeds and also from prunings. In orchards and in pots. 3 feet tall to 10 feet tall. My tree is small now but is planted in the ground so I presume it will grow taller. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2026, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-find-kumquats-anywhere-tariffs/1027344/46 "2026-02-13T16:44:09Z")
> [@scudsucker](#): > > whole kumquats & whole chillies in dark sherry. That sounds elegant and delicious. What do you do with them- serve as a relish along side meat dishes, as a sandwich condiment, and/or … ? ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2026, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-find-kumquats-anywhere-tariffs/1027344/47 "2026-02-13T16:45:07Z")
I meant “adding liquid nitrogen to he kumquats” alone 😑 ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2026, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-find-kumquats-anywhere-tariffs/1027344/48 "2026-02-13T16:48:06Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > as a sandwich condiment, and/or Mostly sandwiches, but also straight up or with a strong cheddar cheese. I should possibly put this in a different forum but I currently have 4 liters of habaneros, lime, garlic and honey, waiting for a few more months until they get to be six months old. I really enjoy chillies! ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2026, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-find-kumquats-anywhere-tariffs/1027344/49 "2026-02-23T03:56:57Z")
I spotted them again at a fruit market in Suburban Chicago last night, $6.99/lb. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2026, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-find-kumquats-anywhere-tariffs/1027344/50 "2026-02-23T05:04:32Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > I spotted them again at a fruit market in Suburban Chicago last night, $6.99/lb I got my delivered by Amazon 2 nights ago. Pretty good but $12/pound. ---
**Author:** ![Saffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saffer/32/6440_2.png) [@Saffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saffer)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2026, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-find-kumquats-anywhere-tariffs/1027344/51 "2026-02-23T05:35:53Z")
I saw some Kumquats at the store over the weekend and was reminded of this thread. I bought them. They are ok. I don’t think I will finish them. I can’t see myself ever craving them. Won’t buy them again. Also, I have decided to add this word to my standard list of insults: “you f\*\*\*ing Kumquat!” ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2026, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-find-kumquats-anywhere-tariffs/1027344/52 "2026-02-23T11:15:19Z")
I do not know if one needs to _crave_ them. I had a couple of nice, ripe, fresh, (non-dessicated) orange ones for breakfast, and they hit the spot. I just ate them whole. ---
**Author:** ![bobsmom101](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobsmom101/32/2867_2.png) [@bobsmom101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobsmom101)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2026, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-find-kumquats-anywhere-tariffs/1027344/53 "2026-02-23T14:28:55Z")
Kumquat flavor also depends on the variety. I love the tartness of Nagami kumquats, but the Meiwas just taste kind of insipid to me. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2026, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-find-kumquats-anywhere-tariffs/1027344/54 "2026-02-23T15:31:08Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > I do not know if one needs to _crave_ them. I usually buy 2 pounds around this time of year and that’s it. This is the first time in many years I haven’t been able to find any locally. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-find-kumquats-anywhere-tariffs/1027344/55 "2026-03-04T03:56:35Z")
Just randomly had a little display pop up in my closest supermarket. $6.99 for an 8 oz container, which I did buy almost entirely because of this thread. Not the best I’ve ever had, but still pretty decent - should just about scratch the itch for 2026. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-find-kumquats-anywhere-tariffs/1027344/56 "2026-03-04T05:09:28Z")
I saw what I thought was a big self-serve bin of kumquats last weekend but they were actually calamansi, a slightly larger citrus that I don’t remember seeing before. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-find-kumquats-anywhere-tariffs/1027344/57 "2026-03-04T05:48:39Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > calamansi, a slightly larger citrus that I don’t remember seeing before. They’re closely related and pretty similar. I had a Filipino co-worker that used to bring them into work to snack on and it took me the longest time to figure out that calamansi was not the Filipino word for kumquat, but rather its own separate thing. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-find-kumquats-anywhere-tariffs/1027344/58 "2026-03-04T14:59:59Z")
They were at Seafood City, a Filipino grocery. I’ve seen them frozen and juice but not fresh like that and I will make a point to buy some next time. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-find-kumquats-anywhere-tariffs/1027344/59 "2026-03-05T19:22:08Z")
I just saw some at my supermarket here in Chicago today. At $9.99 a pint I, however, took a pass. I’m not entirely sure I’ve ever had kumquats or not. It seems like something I would have, but the didn’t look familiar to me. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-find-kumquats-anywhere-tariffs/1027344/60 "2026-03-05T20:00:26Z")
I’ve had mine. Bought 2 pounds from Amazon. Shared some at work, enjoyed the rest at home. Paid wayyy more than normal. Haven’t seen any yet in any of the specialty stores. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-find-kumquats-anywhere-tariffs/1027344.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-find-kumquats-anywhere-tariffs/1027344.md?page=4)