table of contents
- origin
- Plant species
- External difference
- Fruit heart
- taste
- durability
- ingredients
- Calorie differences
- Winter hardiness of the citrus family
From a visual point of view, mandarins and clementines are very similar. They are considered the smaller versions of oranges, although they have a much more intense taste than their "big siblings". The Citrus reticulata and the Citrus × clementina also show interesting differences between each other. These allow the two to be easily kept apart Citrus fruits in terms of appearance and taste.
origin
The first differences can be found in the origin. In the case of the mandarine, this goes back to the time before Christ, when the mandarin tree was first mentioned in China.
The origin of the clementine, however, lies in the Mediterranean area. A monk named Frère Clément found the fruit in an Algerian garden in 1912. This citrus fruit owes its name to him, which was derived from his surname.
Plant species
While the tangerine is a citrus from the rhombus family, it is the clementine is a hybrid that emerged from the crossing of mandarin and bitter orange (bitter orange) is.
External difference
Both citrus fruits have a strong orange color on the skin and they both also have a sweet smell. In terms of color, clementine peels are a slightly darker orange and are usually slightly larger than mandarins in direct comparison.
Mandarins have a thinner, more elastic skin. The peel of the hybrid variety, on the other hand, is thicker, lies tightly against the pulp and cannot be removed as easily as the mandarin peel. Due to the thicker shell, a clementine is also less sensitive to pressure.
tip: There is a simple trick for easier peeling: just put the "ends" at the top and bottom cut off, then make a lengthwise cut from top to bottom and simply cut the peel bend apart.
Fruit heart
Most of the differences can be found inside the fruit:
| tangerine | Clementine | |
| Cores | Yes | none to a few |
| Segments | 9 | 8 – 12 |
| separated by thin membranes | right next to each other | |
| Pulp | strong orange tone | clearly lighter and slightly yellowish |
tip: If it is not organic goods from the region, pesticides could have been used to secure crop yields abroad. Then it is advisable to wash the citrus fruits carefully before consumption or to clean your hands thoroughly after peeling so that no residues of pesticides are absorbed by the body.
taste
Mandarins can be recognized by their full-bodied and intensely fruity-aromatic taste. Clementines have a sweeter taste that clearly distinguishes them from Citrus reticulata.
durability
The shelf life of mandarins is on average one to two weeks. Because the skin loosely surrounds the pulp, the inside of the fruit will dry out more quickly. A Citrus × clementina, on the other hand, is with up to eight weeks significantly more durable. This is due to the tight skin, which keeps the pulp juicy longer and protects it from drying out.
These details relate to cool storage. The warmer the ambient temperature, the shorter the shelf life.
ingredients
All citrus fruits have healthy ingredients - some more, some less. The direct comparison between Citrus reticulata and Citrus × clementina shows:
100 grams of mandarins contain:
- 33 milligrams of calcium
- 210 milligrams of potassium
- Seven milligrams of folic acid
- 30 milligrams of vitamin C.
- 10 grams of carbohydrates
- 0.7 grams of protein
- 11 milligrams of magnesium
- 100 grams of clementines contain:
- 30 milligrams of calcium
- 130 milligrams of potassium
- 33 milligrams of folic acid
- 54 milligrams of vitamin C.
- 12 grams of carbohydrates
- 850 milligrams of protein
- 10 milligrams of magnesium
Calorie differences
Although the clementine tastes sweeter than a tangerine, it only has 47 calories per 100 grams. Mandarins, on the other hand, have 57 calories per 100 grams.
Winter hardiness of the citrus family
The mandarin tree does not tolerate the sub-zero temperatures in winter. So it has to spend it in frost-free winter quarters. Clementine trees, on the other hand, are more robust and resistant to cold. Due to their European origins, they can cope well with winter temperatures and can hibernate outdoors.
