Know Your Mandarins

Health Notes by Dr. Liz

January 16, 2017

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Mandarins are an easy-peel citrus fruit that make great take-along snacks. Plus, they’re packed with plenty of vitamin C—more than 100% of needs in only 40 calories. Studies show vitamin C from this citrus family may help protect the body’s DNA from damage caused by air pollution and everyday wear and tear.

Studies also show that eating mandarins along with other fruits and veggies helps improve blood pressure control, which is a major risk factor for stroke and heart disease. While the mineral potassium in citrus plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy blood pressure, researchers hypothesize that eating citrus helps lower blood pressure through a synergy of compounds including flavonoids along with potassium that work together improving blood flow and lowering blood pressure.

While many mandarins can appear the same, different varieties can vary in terms of flavor, size, seasonality and ease of peeling. Check out some of the most common mandarins and what makes each one special!

Clementines: California Clementines are super sweet, seedless and easy to peel—perfect for on-the-go snacking! They’re usually in season late November through February.

Gold Nuggets: These medium-sized, seedless mandarins flourish mid to late season (February through April) and have a sweet flavor and pleasant aroma.

Honey Tangerines: These citrus treats may have some seeds, but they’re also super sweet and ideal for juicing. You can usually find them in season January through March.

Minneola Tangelos: With the sweetness of a tangerine and tartness of a grapefruit, these seedless citrus fruits are usually in season January through April and are great for juice, on salads or in marinades.

Page Mandarins: A cross between the Minneola and Clementine, these medium, seedless mandarins are as sweet as can be thanks to their high sugar content, and are generally in season December through February.

Pixie Tangerines: These little, late season favorites are sweet, seedless, easy to peel and delicious as a snack or salad topper. You can usually find them in season around March.

Satsumas: Seedless and easy to peel, these sweet treats have a wealth of vitamin C and are usually in season November through February.

Sumo Citrus: Part tangerine, part orange, these mandarins are a BIG deal! They’re sweet, juicy, naturally seedless, easy to peel and usually available January through March.

Add some citrus to your plate with our recipe for a fresh, healthy and delicious Mandarin Chicken Cashew Salad!