The Fruit I Crave All Year Is Finally Back at Trader Joe's

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It tastes like sunshine.

Thanks to its location near California, Oregon gets an abundance of specialty citrus fruits every winter. The fact that we have citrus season is one of the few perks of the long, wet winters, and I try to enjoy it as long as I can, so I can fight off the winter blues. Mandarinquats, makrut limes, and yuzus are just some of the sour special treats I've bought on a whim and tried over the years.

As any good food editor would, I've developed a rather complex ranking system for these fruits, one that exists only in my mind. Leaf and stem mandarins find a high spot in the rankings due to their consistent and well-balanced sweet-tart flavor, easy-to-remove skins, and their aesthetic appeal (they make my fruit arrangement look like something straight out of a magazine). Mandarinquats are another favorite of mine. A hybrid between mandarins and, as you might have guessed, kumquats, mandarinquats are completely edible, including the peel. In fact, the peel is the sweet part, while the interior is as sour as a Warhead candy.

There are a multitude of foods that claim my affection, but it has been the Kishu Mandarin that recently moved to the top of the list.

My absolute favorite citrus fruit is the kishu mandarin. These small fruits are incredibly sweet and juicy, and they have the perfect balance of tartness that stops them from being overpowering. Their loose skins, which would normally be a warning sign in other fruits, make kishus super enjoyable to peel. The skins practically slip off in one piece, revealing a small, round orange that's about the size of a golf ball (sometimes smaller). I can easily eat six or more in one sitting.

In fact, I have such a strong affection for kishu mandarins that I once named a cat after them. I chose the name Kishu for the cat because it was winter when I adopted her, and she was quite small and adorable at the time, much like a kishu mandarin. The name suited her perfectly.

I normally have to visit my favorite specialty stores to find kishus, as big chains usually don't carry them. I did a double take when I spotted them at Trader Joe's not long ago. Not only was the store carrying kishus, but they were available in a one-pound bag for $4.99 - a great deal for such an exceptional fruit. Kishus are in season for a remarkably short time, so I'd like to remind you to check out Trader Joe's while they have them in stock.

The fusion of citrus peel oils with the fragrant steam from the tea creates a sensory delight that lets you appreciate the season's calm pace. Every time I bite into a kishu, all I can think of is that it tastes like a ray of sunshine in my mouth.

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