Albert Heijn sells kiwiberries: they look like grapes but taste like sweet kiwi

Kiwiberries are small, green, and have a completely smooth skin. Because of this, you simply eat them in one or two bites, much like you would a grape.

What is a kiwi berry?

The kiwiberry is the fruit of Actinidia arguta, a climbing plant from the same plant family as the common kiwi. The fruit is therefore also called baby kiwi or hardy kiwi.

Inside, the resemblance is almost complete. Cut one in half and you see green flesh with the familiar tiny black seeds surrounding a lighter core. The big difference is on the outside: no hairy brown skin, but a thin and smooth skin that is perfectly edible.

In terms of size, kiwiberries are also much closer to grapes than to regular kiwis.

How do kiwiberries taste?

The taste is reminiscent of kiwi, but somewhat sweeter and juicier. Albert Heijn describes the taste as sweet and slightly acidic with a soft texture. Other descriptions also mention it as sweeter and less acidic than large kiwis.

You don't need to do much else with them. Just wash them and they can be eaten straight from the container.

So, perfect for mixing into yogurt or granola, in a fruit salad, or as a topping on a pavlova. Cut in half, they also work well in a salad that would normally contain grapes. Thanks to their fresh, sweet taste, they pair well with goat cheese, feta, or something savory, for example.

Why are they in the store right now?

Kiwiberries have a fairly short season. They are typically harvested from late summer until sometime in the autumn. That explains why they are much less commonly found in supermarkets than regular kiwis.

In other words: kiwi without the hassle of a knife, spoon, or hairy skin. We really can't object to that.