Fruits
Kiwi in gelato
Green kiwifruit is a low-sugar, high-acid fruit (about 16-17% total solids, ~9% sugars) prized in gelato and sorbetto for its bright tang and vivid emerald color. Its sugars are almost entirely glucose and fructose, giving it an unusually strong anti-freezing effect for its sugar load.
Balancing parameters
Per 100 g of product, verified against independent food-science sources (listed below).
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Solids | 16.5% |
| Water | 83.5% |
| Sugars | 9% |
| Fat | 0.5% |
| MSNF | 0% |
| Protein | 1% |
| POD (sweetening power) | 11 |
| PAC (anti-freezing power) | 17 |
Typical use: 25-40% of the recipe as fresh fruit or puree in a sorbetto
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Open the balancerHow to use it in gelato
Use kiwi mainly in sorbetto, where its acidity and color shine. Because its sugars are ~95% monosaccharides (glucose + fructose), its PAC (~17) runs well above its sugar weight, so a kiwi sorbetto softens faster than a sucrose-only mix at the same Brix; compensate by trimming added dextrose/invert or adding a little sucrose to firm the scoop. POD is moderate (~11), so kiwi contributes real sweetness plus tartness. Critically, kiwi contains actinidin, a protease that curdles milk proteins and can turn dairy gelato bitter or grainy, so keep kiwi in water-based sorbetto or briefly blanch/cook the puree to denature the enzyme before using it in a milk base.
Origin & background
Native to China, where it was known as yang tao (Chinese gooseberry), the fruit (Actinidia deliciosa) was carried to New Zealand in the early 1900s and commercially developed there; growers renamed it kiwifruit in the late 1950s to aid export, after the country's national bird. New Zealand's first commercial exports shipped in 1952.
Frequently asked questions
Sources
- USDA FoodData Central, Kiwifruit, green, raw (FDC ID 168153): water 83.07-83.1 g, total sugars ~8.99 g, fructose 4.35 g, glucose 4.11 g, sucrose 0.15 g, protein 1.14 g, total fat 0.52 g per 100 g. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/food-details/168153/nutrients
- Aprifel (French Interprofessional Fruit & Vegetable / CIQUAL data), Kiwi nutritional sheet: water 83.5 g, total sugars 8.90 g (fructose 4.30, glucose 3.80, sucrose 0.80), protein 0.88 g, fat 0.60 g per 100 g. https://www.aprifel.com/en/nutritional-sheet/kiwi/
- NutritionDataHub mirror of USDA FDC 168153 (independent extraction): fructose 4.35 g, glucose 4.11 g, sucrose 0.15 g, water 83.1 g per 100 g. https://nutritiondatahub.com/food/kiwifruit-green-raw-168153