It is now widely grown in the USA, preferring the warmer climates of states like California, Arizona, Texas, and particularly Florida. The fruit was transported to Europe and the USA via the port of Tangiers, in Morocco, which is where it gets its name. It originated in East Asia, and has been cultivated in China and Japan for over 3,000 years. The tangerine is a much older variety of mandarin. In the United States, they are often referred to as ‘mandarins’, and while this is technically true, they are only one of several different varieties of mandarin.
#Clementine vs mandarin skin
They have a distinctive, pebbly skin and flatter shape. However, they are still smaller, sweeter and easier to peel than most oranges. Tangerines are a slightly bigger variety of mandarin, with a flavour that is tart compared to a clementine. In the United States, they are in season between November and April. Their small size means they can be fragile and difficult to grow, so they might sometimes be difficult to track down in stores. These days clementines are mainly grown in China, Spain, Morocco and California. It was discovered in Misserghin, Algeria, at the turn of the twentieth century, growing in the orphanage garden of French Missionary Brother Clément Rodier, after whom it takes its name. The clementine is a spontaneous hybrid, meaning it is the product of two different plants interbreeding naturally, without human interference. Because of this they are often marketed at children, with friendly brand names such as ‘Cuties’ or ‘Sweeties’. They are seedless, with a sweet taste, and soft, easy to peel skin, making them the perfect healthy snack for kids. What is a Clementine?Ĭlementines are the smallest variety of mandarin orange. If it feels rough, it’s a tangerine, if it feels smooth, it’s a clementine.
The easiest way to tell the difference is to hold the fruit in your hand. Tangerines are larger and flatter in shape, with an uneven ‘pebbly’ texture. Clementines have a slightly sweeter taste than tangerines, are a brighter orange colour, and have a smoother skin, which is easier to peel.
Tangerines and clementines are both varieties of mandarin orange.
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