Tangerine Trees
All About Tangerine Trees
Tangerine trees, also known as Mikan trees, are named for the fruit they bear. The tangerine is a red or orange colored citrus fruit. It is actually a variation on the Mandarin orange, but tangerines are generally smaller than oranges. The skin of tangerines will usually peel off more easily than that of oranges. And the tangerine has a sweeter taste than an orange.
Tangerine trees, when well-maintained, will grow good quality fruits that should feel firm to the touch, or slightly soft. They are rather heavy for the size of the fruit, and they have a skin that is pebbly and without any grooves. The best tangerines are grown between November and January.
Tangerine trees also throw a fruit known as the honey tangerine, which is very sweet. These trees will also, when of the proper variety of tree, bear Fairchild and sunburst tangerines.
The Dancy tangerine is not widely grown as much as it used to be, but it is easy to peel and has a delicious flavor. It was harvested mainly in December, and children might get one in their stockings at Christmas. This resulted in its nickname, the “Christmas Orange”.
Tangerine trees grow a sweet fruit that is most commonly peeled and eaten by hand. You can also use it in main dishes, desserts and salads. The juice from fresh and frozen tangerines is available in most areas of the United States. Tangerines are an excellent source of beta-carotene, folate and vitamin C. They are also a good source of vitamins B3, B2, B1 and magnesium and potassium.
Tangerines were originally brought to the United States from Tangier Morocco. This port also shipped Europe its first tangerines. The top tangerine producing countries right now are China, Spain, Brazil and Japan.
The gold nugget is a favorite tangerine type for taste, although it contains seeds. The Shasta Gold and Yosemite Gold trees produce more flavorful fruit when planted in southern areas of the United States. They will grow in areas like northern California, but generally the fruit will not taste as sweet. Satsumi tangerine trees are often grown in Florida and California, and many people are quite fond of this Japanese variety of tangerine trees.
Satsumi mandarin or tangerine trees produce a seedless fruit that is very easy to peel. There are several different varieties, and all of them do well in the cooler areas of Southern California. Satsumi's are sensitive to temperatures which are too high, so they are not grown in the really hot areas of California. Otherwise, though, the Satsumi trees are hardy, and they are some of the first fruits to ripen in season. They need to be picked right when they are ripe, or they will get insipid and puffy, but the fruit stores well once you have it off the tree.