In article ,
Stephen Wolstenholme wrote:

Probably Kumquats. Don't expect them to taste like oranges. They are
very soar unless eaten whole. Their skins and rind are the sweet bits
just to confuse orange eaters! I've never been able to grow kumquats
so I depend on my greengrocer.

Kumquats are rarely eaten raw, but candied or otherwise used in
cooking. As with most citrus, the skin and pith are bitter,
though no more so than many oranges.

The ones I had from the greengrocer had sweet skins and pith. The
flesh was very sour.

That is a most unusual kumquat - indeed, it's a most unusual
citrus! There may well be a variety like that but, generally,
they are as I said. If you come across them again, I should be
interested to know the variety.

Note that bitterness and sourness are not the same taste, though
many people taste them as the same.

I know the difference very well. Lemons are sour, Angostura and some
beers are bitter. Even when mixed together I can taste the two
flavours.

Lemon juice is sour; the rind and pith are bitter. I have never
cross a citrus where the rind and pith were not bitter, though
it is probably obtrusive only to sensitive people in some of the
'tangerine-like' varieties.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.