Kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis)

Kiwifruit, Actinidia chinensis, is a vigorous climbing vine from China whose fuzzy brown or smooth golden fruit was renamed by New Zealand growers, who made it famous. In India it grows in cool hill regions, and Arunachal Pradesh, especially the Ziro valley, is now the largest producer. The fruit is rich in vitamin C. It is also a common cause of food allergy.

Botanical name: Actinidia chinensis Planch.
Family: Actinidiaceae
Tamil: Kiwi
Hindi: Kiwi
Parts used: Ripe fruit
Habit: Chinese gooseberry; English gooseberry is a shop word
Last updated: 2026-10-26

How to recognise Kiwifruit

It is a woody, twining vine with large, rounded, heart-shaped leaves, often hairy beneath.

Flowers are cream to white, cup-shaped, with many stamens. Male and female flowers grow on separate vines, so orchards need both.

Green kiwifruit (var. deliciosa) has brown, fuzzy skin and bright green flesh. Golden varieties have smooth, bronze skin and yellow flesh.

Inside are rows of tiny black seeds around a pale, juicy core.

Traditional use of Kiwifruit

Chinese origin

Wild kiwifruit, called mihoutao, was gathered in China for centuries before it was cultivated.

Chinese food history

Indian hill farming

Farmers in Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Nagaland now grow kiwi vines on pergolas, and Arunachal produces organic kiwi wine.

Indian horticulture

Modern notes on Kiwifruit

A single kiwifruit can provide a day’s vitamin C. It is also rich in fibre and potassium.

It contains actinidin, a protein-digesting enzyme that tenderises meat and stops gelatin from setting, which is why kiwi spoils jelly desserts.

Kiwifruit safety

Kiwifruit allergy is common and can cause mouth itching or more serious reactions. People with latex allergy are at higher risk.

Ecology and sourcing

It is native to the forests of central and southern China.

It needs winter chill and a long growing season, which suits mid-altitude Indian hills.

Bees pollinate the flowers, carrying pollen from male to female vines.

Related plants

Questions about Kiwifruit

Is Kiwifruit a gooseberry?

No. Chinese gooseberry was an old trade name. It is in the kiwi family.

Where is Kiwifruit grown in India?

Mainly in Arunachal Pradesh, with Himachal, Sikkim and Nagaland.

What older names does Actinidia chinensis go by?

Actinidia deliciosa.

Sources

Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.