Sumo Fruit

Meal planning and grocery shopping are some of my favourite things to do. Before you roll your eyes all the way to the back of your head, let me explain.

Food is my passion. So, a fresh food market or a well stocked grocery produce aisle are very exciting places for me.  The smells, the colors, the textures… Everything screams fun and adventure!  Grocery shopping is also my alone time – I never (or very rarely) shop with anyone else and that includes my kids.

In the summer, farmers markets including the one at Trinity Bellwoods and at the Etobicoke Civic Centre are my go-to places for fresh fruits and vegetables. However, in the winter, my local Loblaws at Queen and Portland is where I can be found
roaming the aisles for about one and a half hours each week. The store is small compared to others however the variety of its fresh produce (both local and exotic) and its cheese wall are what keep me coming back week after week.

Last week, while looking at the citrus fruit, the ‘knoby’ Sumo Citrus fruit caught my attention. It looks like a simple large mandarin however its knob or Sumo ‘top knot’ and its bumpy rind give it a unique look.  And in the spirit of full disclosure, its label and name were what sealed the deal.  At $4.99 per pound it is significantly more expensive than most other citrus but I thought that it was worth a try.

Once at home, I went to Google for some more information. Not surprisingly, the fruit is a new citrus variety that came to be when a grower in Japan found a way to combine “the easy-to-peel Japanese Satsuma [mandarin] with the
big, juicy, sweet oranges from California”. It took 30 years, however the Sumo fruit became very popular in Japan and Korea before making its way to America. It is now produced in California and is available from February to May.

Although similar to a traditional
mandarin, the Sumo fruit has some distinctive features other than its ‘top knot’ and its easy-to-peel rough outer skin. The Sumo tastes different from other citrus. It has a subtle candy-like flavour which I would compare to a high-end orange flavoured gummy bear.  The flesh is also different.  The Sumo’s skin/membrane covering each segment is very thin and makes it feel like the fruit melts in your mouth.  Also, in a traditional mandarin or orange, each little section that holds the juice is distinct and noticeable but not so much in the Sumo. This makes the Sumo feel a lot more smooth and silky than other citrus.

The fact that this fruit is so pricey and its unique flavour is so subtle, I would not use the Sumo for cooking and would simply enjoy it as is.

Taking the time to taste, smell and feel produce at your local market is fun and is, in my opinion, the easiest, cheapest and quickest way to take a trip to far away places.  So, go ahead and book your next adventure!