#kumquat

[ayamebird]

金柑が美味しい季節です

[melonramune]

2015-03-22

[emeraldtortoiseshell]

@cabbt made an interesting observation about The Ancient One's nickname for Leo, and it got me thinking.

So, throughout the episode that shares his name, The Ancient One repeatedly calls Leo "kumquat".

I must admit: I had no idea what a kumquat was back in the 2000's. For some reason, I thought it was a type of cucumber or gherkin - maybe I just assumed it was something green to match Leo's skin? Plus, cucumbers and turtles/kappas have a connection in Japanese folklore, so it made sense in my head, at least 😅

But no. This is a kumquat:

It's a small citrus fruit, like a sour orange.

So, why did The Ancient One repeatedly call Leo "kumquat"? It's not even remotely connected to Leo or his colour scheme.

Maybe it's like the British expression of calling someone a "plum" as a lighthearted way of saying "you silly fool"? But the only source I can find for the use of 'kumquat' as slang comes from this site, which takes the wording directly from Urban Dictionary. And since neither gives a source (and anyone can submit anything to UD), I'm hesitant to believe that The Ancient One is repeatedly calling poor Leo "a young individual who goes through life constantly disappointing people with his/her infinite failures.” Ouch.

I dunno, I could well be wrong. If anyone is familiar with the term, or has heard it used in such a way, please let me know. But it just seems too harsh for what was, at the end of the day, a kid's show. Plus, the episode Fathers and Sons reveals that The Ancient One had already met Leo before, and seemed quite fond of him and his brothers. Even if Splinter wrote to him to tell him about what Leo was going through, such an insulting nickname seems uncalled for and unexpected.

I'd like to suggest 2 different, but complementary, explanations for The Ancient One's choice of nickname for Leo.

1. Kumquats may be orange when ripe, but while still growing, they're green

Perhaps The Ancient One is linking Leo's green skin to an unripe kumquat, telling him he's inexperienced and still growing/learning. Perhaps, in a roundabout way, he's saying "Give yourself time. You're not yet ready to understand the emotions churning within you, but you'll get there."

Or 2. Kumquats have got a thick outer rind, and the fruit within is said to be rather sour. Perhaps The Ancient One is noting the heavy walls Leo has put up around himself, and how bitter he has become on the inside. He drops the nickname "kumquat" once Leo lets go of his inner anger and starts to forgive himself for what he couldn't do.

He only uses it again to warn Leo to go home when his family is in danger, and even then, he uses his real name twice and "kumquat" only once.

Perhaps "kumquat" is a nickname with a meaning - like 'Splinter' - to warn Leo not to fall back into the darkness that almost consumed him?

But I don't think it's ever meant harshly.

Or, maybe the writers just wanted a silly nickname for the Ancient One to call Leo, and the picked the first East Asian fruit they could find ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I may be wrong. But that's just my interpretation. I'm interested to hear what other people think, and if anyone else has any other theories.

[rodolfo9999]

夕食後半。2024年2月13日、有馬温泉中の坊瑞苑。

[fidjiefidjie]

Où sont passés mes Kumquats ?

😁 Mea culpa ! 🐕

Source: X

👋 Bel après-midi

[acocktailmoment]

Year Of The Snake Cocktail !

Ingredients:

1.5 oz Roku Gin

2 oz lychee soda

.25 oz kumquat juice

1 oz Midori

.5 oz Coconut Liqueur

Edamame foam (see recipe below)

Garnish: edamame foam & dehydrated lime

Method:

Add all ingredients in the shaker with ice and shake for 10 seconds.

Strain over fresh ice.

Add edamame foam on top.

Garnish slice lime dehydrated & foam

Edamame foam:

Yield: 23 oz (cream siphon 700 ml) / Shelf-life: 1 week

Ingredients:

1 cup shelled edamame (cooked)

1/4 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup regular milk

1 tsp lemon juice

2 gelatin sheets

1/4 cup water

Method:

1. Blend the ingredients: In a blender or food processor, combine the cooked edamame, heavy cream,water, and lemon juice. Blend until the mixture is smooth and creamy. 2. Strain the mixture: Pour the blended mixture through a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth into a bowl to remove any solids. This ensures that the foam is smooth and does not clog the siphon. 3. Siphon: Pour the strained mixture into the cream siphon, making sure not to overfill it (usually filling it about 2/3 full is ideal). Seal the siphon according to the manufacturer’s instructions. 4. Load the siphon: Load the siphon with a cream charger (N2O) and 2 sheets of gelatin to stabilize. Shake the siphon well to mix the gas with the edamame mixture.

Courtesy: Casa Chi by Chef Richard Sandoval, Chicago, USA

This article was not sponsored or supported by a third-party. A Cocktail Moment is not affiliated with any individuals or companies depicted here.

[abiwaif]

Tell me something that isn’t a dirty word, but it feels like one.

I’ll go first: kumquat

[morethansalad]

Kumquat Lemon Thyme Marmalade (Vegan-Adaptable)

[leotide]

A piece I created for the start of 2024 to celebrate Year of the Dragon 😊

お正月の龍アート😊

[firstlawcedarprairie]

Kumquat

[constantlyfalling]

California Citrus State Historic Park

[nerdyperday]

Day 3017 Kuwat

[draganadimitrijevic]

Full Sun Graz © Dragana Dimitrijević

[thelearningcat]

They were aged out Thursday and sent to find their forever homes. I miss my babies so much. Especially Jujube. She may have been my clear favorite.

[kisulandia]

Kumquat and a small ship comic with him and Cheesy

[ffeatherisffeather]