Mandarin oranges, from the species Citrus reticulata, is a citrus fruit native of southeastern Asia and the Philippines, according to Purdue University Center for New Crops and Plant Products. Mandarin oranges grow from small trees with slender branches and evergreen leaves, with the fruit itself being about 2 to 4 inches in diameter, with a loose skin and juicy, sweet taste. There are hundreds of varieties of mandarin oranges, with most originating from three main classes within the Citrus reticulata species: mandarin, tangerine and satsuma.
Mandarin
The mandarin class of Citrus reticulata includes varieties such as the seedy, sweet, orange-red Changsha; the rich, sweet, orange-yellow Oneco; and the very juicy, sweet, glossy Willow-leaf. The Changsha, according to Floridata, is perhaps the most cold-resistant of the sweet citrus fruits.
Tangerine
Tangerines, or Citrus reticulata blanco, are perhaps the most well-known class of mandarin oranges. This class includes varieties of mandarin oranges such as the juicy, orange-red and glossy Clementine; the larger, low-acid Ponkan, also known as the "Chinese honey orange"; as well as the richly flavored, dark orange Dancy, which is the most common commercial tangerine in Florida. The Clementine is sweet-tasting and seedless, with a thinner membrane surrounding the fruit than other tangerine varieties. Another variety of tangerine is the tangelo, a cross between a tangerine and grapefruit. The tangelo is large in size like an orange, but closer in taste to a tangerine than a grapefruit, according to the Tangerines Organization.
Satsuma
According to Floridata, Satsumas are a group of highly cold-resistant mandarins that come in over a hundred varieties. Satsumas originated from Japan, with the most common varieties including the slightly pear-shaped and nearly seedless Owari, the salmon-orange, sweet flavor of Wase, and the deep yellow-orange, very juicy and aromatic Kara. Owari Satsuma mandarin oranges, according to Monrovia Horticultural Craftsmen, are a sweet, juicy variety of Satsuma that ripens very early and stores very well.
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