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Daily Dish the Fork Lift blog

Triangular stack of different citrus tangerines plus mandarin orange segments scattered on and around

Orange You Glad?

So many mandarins, so little time! While some of these lovely little oranges may be available year-round, many make their debut in the winter season when citrus season shines. So how do you tell the difference between a clementine, satsuma, and tangerine? They share many characteristics, most being smaller, sweeter, and easier to peel than standard oranges, but they still have special traits and seasons that make them each unique. Check it out!

So many mandarins, so little time! While some of these lovely little oranges may be available year-round, many make their debut in the winter season when citrus season shines. So how do you tell the difference between a clementine, satsuma, and tangerine? They share many characteristics, most being smaller, sweeter, and easier to peel than standard oranges, but they still have special traits and seasons that make them each unique. Check it out!

Heirloom Navel Oranges: Big, bold, and beautiful, heirloom navel oranges are what you think about when you imagine a classic bite of juicy, citrus sunshine. Ideal for slicing, juicing, or using in recipes, these oranges are grown in California around January through March.

Cara Cara Oranges: These novel navels look like regular oranges on the outside but have slightly thinner skin and a darker pinkish-red flesh inside. They tend to be seedless, on the sweeter side, and usually in season in California for the first few months of the year.

Sumo Citrus: Part tangerine, part orange, these mandarins are a BIG deal! They’re sweet, juicy, naturally seedless, easy to peel and usually available December 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 super sweet thanks to their high sugar content, and generally in season December through February.

Satsumas: Usually seedless, tender, tasty, and super easy to peel, these sweet treats originated in Japan and are usually in season November to January.

Gold Nuggets: These medium mandarins have a distinctive nubbly skin that makes them easy to identify. They’re usually in season in California from February through April and have a sweet flavor and pleasant aroma.

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.

Honey Tangerines: Also known as Murcott, these mandarins are a hybrid between sweet oranges and tangerines. They may have some seeds, but are also super sweet and ideal for juicing. You can usually find them in season January through March.

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 February.

Fun Fact: If you buy a bag of Halos or Cuties, you could be enjoying three different varieties of mandarins depending on the season: clementines, tangos, and W. Murcotts!

What are you waiting for? Drop by our Produce Department to enjoy these sweet fruits of the season while you can!

Selection may vary by store and season.

Images

  • Triangular stack of different citrus tangerines plus mandarin orange segments scattered on and around
  • Sumo, Minneola, Page, Satsuma, Gold Nugget, Clementine
    From left to right: Sumo, Minneola, Page, Satsuma, Gold Nugget, Clementine