Five Mandarins You Should Have in Your Fruit Bowl
Flavorful, easy-to-peel, and often seedless, mandarins are the ultimate citrus season treat.
Oranges used to rule the American fruit bowl; nowadays they've taken a back seat to mandarins. It's easy to see why: Mandarins are flavorful and complex; have richly fragrant, easy-to-peel skin; separate readily into segments; and are mainly seedless. The fruit got its nickname when the species Citrus reticulata was brought to England from China in 1805, and the name has come to refer to the entire category of similar loose-skinned citrus. (Its other alias, “tangerine,” arose later in the century, when mandarins shipped through Tangier began arriving in the United States—though there is some debate among botanists as to whether tangerines should be considered a separate species.) Myriad cultivars and hybrids exist, each with their own palette of flavors. Take advantage of peak citrus season to enjoy some of the types below.
Common Mandarin
When mandarins are not specifically labeled, they may well be the Dancy cultivar, one of the oldest and most prolific varieties grown in the United States.
PROFILE: Rich and sprightly, with moderate acidity
SEEDS: Few
Tangelo
A cross between either a tangerine/mandarin and a pomelo (hence the name) or a tangerine/mandarin and a grapefruit, tangelos are slightly larger than an orange and typically feature a long, tapered neck (not shown here). The Minneola, developed in Florida in the 1930s, remains the most popular cultivar.
PROFILE: Superjuicy, with fine-grained, almost plush flesh and bright, tart-sweet flavor
SEEDS: Few to none
Satsuma Mandarin
One of the main citrus species grown in Japan, the satsuma is regarded as the sweetest of all mandarins. Though also cultivated in the United States, the fruit's vulnerability to bruising can make it hard to find, so scoop up satsumas when you see them.
PROFILE: Juicy, sweet, and floral, with delicate flesh that melts in the mouth
SEEDS: None
Clementine
The smallest mandarin, with thin, shiny skin, its discovery in Algiers in the early 20th century is often attributed to a French missionary, Father Clement Rodier. Once mainly imported from Spain, it's the chief mandarin variety cultivated in the United States. Brand names: Cuties, Halos
PROFILE: Floral and honey-sweet aroma
SEEDS: None
Shiranui Mandarin
In Japan, this large, lumpy fruit sometimes goes by “dekopon,” a reference to its topknot (akin to the hairstyle of a sumo wrestler). The variety takes extreme care to grow and pick, so it's expensive ($3.49 to $3.99 per pound) but worth it. Brand name: Sumo Citrus
PROFILE: Intensely flavorful, with balanced sweetness and acidity
SEEDS: None