Peeling Kiwis?

[jkuhl]

I'm going to start a session-style mead with strawberries and kiwis. The fruits have already been frozen 24 hours and after cutting the greens off the strawberries and slicing the kiwis, I intend to pasteurize them and then putting them into a must with 1 lb honey in one gallon (looking for low ABV.)

My question is, do the kiwis need to be peeled? Or is there benefit to leaving the skins on?

 

[RCope]

Disclaimer...I don't brew mead. But I've added a lot of fruit to beer over the years. In general, if you'd eat it with the skin on you can leave it (nectarines, plums, apricots, etc..) But I'd peel a kiwi to eat and did the same before adding it to a fermentation. Same for pineapple and mango. One exception to that general rule is orange or lime zest...Cheers!

 

[jkuhl]

That's what I was thinking and I did end up peeling it. But it made me wonder if I was missing out in tannins or nutrients or something beneficial.

 

[Dan O]

That's what I was thinking and I did end up peeling it. But it made me wonder if I was missing out in tannins or nutrients or something beneficial.

My thought is the same as @RCope. Then you have all those hairs on the outer skin....I think a lot of those would probably find their way even through a fine mesh BIAB.
Let us know how this turns out.
Happy meading