Clementines and tangerines. What's in a name?
Clementines and tangerines are two small orange citrus fruits with juicy, sweet flesh that can easily be eaten on the go and stored for a long time. And while they may look the same, they are anything but. One was born before the other, one has a thinner skin, while the other has a rougher skin... Let's play the seven differences game!
The tree or the fruit? 🌳
The first thing that distinguishes these two almost twin fruits is where they come from.
- The tangerine grows on the mandarin tree (Citrus deliciosa or Citrus reticulata), which comes mainly from China and Vietnam. It only made its way to Europe in the early 19th century.
- The clementine comes from Citrus clementina, simply put the clementine tree. This small tree, which does not exceed six metres, is very fragrant, just like the mandarin tree. It is the result of a graft between a mandarin and an orange tree.
The mandarin is the oldest of the two and it is actually the ancestor of the orange tree. Quite surprising considering how popular oranges are.
Tangerine and clementine, real false twins! 🍊🍊
There are actually very few differences between these two deliciously sweet citrus fruits. The clementine differs from the tangerine in that it has a thinner skin, making it easier to peel. The tangerine is larger than its cousin, and its colours are brighter too. Their sugar content is the same, but the tangerine is more acidic than the clementine.
The seeds make all the difference 🐝. Tangerines often contain more seeds than clementines. Why, you ask? Clementines are not sterile, so they can contain seeds, but if they are grown in an orchard where only clementine trees are planted, they will not produce seeds. However, if there are citrus trees close to the clementine trees, then a bee is able to carry pollen from citrus trees other than the clementine onto the clementine flowers. This will result in clementines with seeds.
Tip 💡 To recognise them with your eyes closed, take the fruit in your hands. The smoothest is the clementine, the roughest is the tangerine.
When to eat them? 🗓️
Tangerines are available a little earlier in the season, as they are harvested from October to April.
As for clementines, trust us when we say they are at their best from November to February!
Tangerines and clementines are equal sources of goodness 🤗
- Low in calories
- Rich in vitamin C
- Rich in antioxidants
- Rich in carbohydrates
- They strengthen the immune system
- Invigorating
- Rich in soft fibres
How to choose them? 🤔
Choose them according to their firmness and not their colour, as there are several varieties of clementines for example.
Simply put, choose the firm ones!
A bit of history and science 📗
The clementine owes its name to Brother Clement (1839-1904) who is said to have created or discovered it. Some say that it was born from a cross between a mandarin and a bitter orange tree. In any case, genetic studies have proven that the fruit is a hybrid of the mandarin and the sweet orange. Chromosomal studies by INRA, the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment, show that the clementine is the result of the fertilisation of a mandarin flower by sweet orange pollen.
Had you ever noticed these differences between the tangerine and the clementine? Which one is your favourite? Let us know on our social media channels. We can't wait to find out!
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