What is the name of the mixture of orange and tangerine, and what other citrus hybrids exist?
Mandarin is one of the most diverse types of citrus fruits. These fruits have a looser, easily peeled peel and sweeter pulp than an orange. Tangerine trees are suitable for growing in a variety of climates, unlike other types of citrus fruits.
But tangerines are smaller and do not have the same shelf life as oranges. The hybridization of these two citrus fruits has produced large, juicy and sweet fruits that combine the best qualities of both crops. From the article you will learn what the mixture of orange and tangerine is called and what other citrus hybrids exist.
Variety of citrus fruits
Evergreen representatives of citrus fruits are beautiful during flowering and have dense leaves of rich green color. Therefore, they are often grown for decorative purposes both in the garden and at home.
Three original species of these plants are known: mandarin, pomelo and citron. All other citrus fruits presented today in stores and markets are the result of crossing original species. Including the familiar sweet oranges, lemons and limes.
Historical reference. The genus Citrus is native to Asia, Melanesia and Australia. Various species of these trees have been cultivated and grown by local people since ancient times. From here the plants spread to Micronesia and Polynesia, and then to the Middle East and the Mediterranean region.
The fruits themselves come in a variety of shapes and sizes. But they are all covered with a peel that varies in density and thickness. Under the layer of zest there is a white shell with a bitter taste. The pulp of the vast majority of citrus fruits is juicy slices with seeds inside.
Citrus fruits are valued for their special smell. Its source is flavonoids and limonoids contained in the peel. The Citrus genus is commercially important because it is grown not only for its fruit and fresh consumption, but also for its juice for canning.
Citrus trees easily interbreed with each other in natural conditions. Trees obtained by grafting desired varieties onto disease-resistant rhizomes are used to grow fruits commercially.
Interesting fact! The color of the ripe fruit depends on the growing region. In the tropics, where there is no winter at all, citrus fruits remain green until ripe, hence tropical green oranges.
Trees bloom in spring and fruit appears soon after.. The fruits ripen in autumn or early winter depending on the variety. It is at this time that they acquire sweetness. Some species, such as grapefruit, take up to 18 months to mature.
Types of hybrids
As mentioned above, citrus trees interbreed easily. This fact explains the diversity of their species. In addition to the usual oranges, tangerines and lemons, you can find exotic fruits in supermarkets, such as sweetie, tangelo or clementines.
Here is a brief description of the main hybrids, the history of their selection and beneficial properties.
Tangelo
The fruit with the unusual name tangelo is a hybrid of tangerine (a type of mandarin) and pomelo or grapefruit.. Some tangelo varieties appeared by accident, others were specially bred.
Tangelo was bred in America in 1897 by Walter Tennyson Swingle. The hybrid turned out to be so different from its brothers that it was separated into a separate class. In particular, tangelo is characterized by increased frost resistance.
The tangelo tree is a large evergreen plant up to 7-8 m high. The size of the fruit varies from orange to grapefruit. The pulp is yellow or orange, the taste is sweet with a slight sourness. The structure of the peel is loose, it is easy to peel off. A characteristic feature of the tangelo is the slightly elongated base of the fruit.
The main producers of the hybrid are the American states of Florida and California.. These trees are not found in nature; they are cultivated on plantations and in private gardens. Other cultivation areas are Türkiye and Israel.
Beneficial features
Tangelo pulp contains antioxidants, potassium, vitamins A, C and group B. It is also high in fiber, which aids digestion and lowers blood sugar levels.
The average weight of one fruit is 100 g, calorie content is about 70 kcal, which makes tangelo suitable for people who are watching their weight and trying not to consume a lot of calories.
Minneola
Minneola is the most widely grown tangelo variety.. This representative of citrus fruits was developed in America (Florida) in the 1930s. The hybrid was the result of crossing Duncan grapefruit and Dancy mandarin.
Minneola tree grows up to 5 m in height. The fruits are round with a pronounced neck and smooth red-orange skin. Easy to clean. The fruit's flavor is rich and juicy, with a hint of tartness from the parent grapefruit.
The nutritional value of minneola is similar to other citrus fruits.. The fruits are rich in vitamin C, folic acid, potassium and fiber. Minneola pulp does not contain seeds or contains small amounts. Therefore, it is a good choice for a lunch box or healthy snack.
In cooking, the fruits are used for cooking salads, desserts and cocktails, as well as as an addition to fish and seafood dishes.
Sweetie
Sweetie, or oroblanco, is a variety obtained from a hybrid of white grapefruit and pomelo.. Sweetie was bred in the 1960s by American breeders who wanted a fruit with the same qualities as grapefruit, but sweeter.
Oval or round fruits look like grapefruits or small pomelo. They weigh from 300 to 1500 g. The pulp, divided into segments, is light, dense, sweet, but with a bitterness characteristic of grapefruit. It tastes like clementine and orange.
Thanks to the thick partitions between the segments, the oroblanco pulp dries more slowlythan other citrus fruits. There are no bones. The peel of the fruit is thick, green to yellow, smooth and shiny.
The fruits grow on large evergreen trees 5-9 m high. Plants love warm climates. Today they are grown in South Asia, Europe, parts of Central and South America, Israel and the Hawaiian Islands. The main supplier of fruit is Israel.
Beneficial features
Oroblanco pulp has a high vitamin C content, various microelements, folic acid, essential oils, B vitamins and enzymes that stimulate the breakdown of proteins and fats.
Also The pulp and peel of the sweetie contain the antioxidant naringin, which neutralizes free radicals and helps protect DNA. Naringin also removes bad cholesterol.
Interesting things on the site:
What is lime - what kind of plant is it and how does it grow
Tangor
Tangor is a hybrid of orange and mandarin (tangerine). This variety of citrus fruit was developed by American breeders in the early 1920s. In Australia and Brazil it is the second most popular citrus after orange. One of the most famous varieties of tangor is Murcott (which means “honey”).
The plant is a tall and wide shrub with overhanging branches and pointed, spear-shaped leaves. The fruits are flattened and medium in size (4-8 cm in diameter), weighing 70-120 g. The peel is yellow-orange, adheres well to the pulp and is difficult to peel off. The pulp is juicy, sweet and aromatic.
Regular consumption of tangors helps strengthen the immune system, normalizes blood flow, stimulates the production of food enzymes, helps in the fight against colds. The chemical composition of the fruit includes vitamins A, E, C, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, thiamine, riboflavin.
Clementine
Clementine is a variety of tangor, a hybrid of mandarin and sweet orange.. The clementine fruit is dark orange in color with a smooth, glossy skin. The pulp is divided into 7-14 segments. The peel is easy to peel.
Clementine is a spontaneous citrus hybrid that appeared in the late 19th century. in Misserhin (Algeria) in the garden of the priest Clément Rodier, after whom it was named.
There are three types of clementines: seedless, clementines with a maximum of 10 seeds and Montreal (more than 10 seeds).
The fruits are a rich source of vitamin C and antioxidants. One medium fruit provides 40% of your daily vitamin C requirement. In addition, clementine contains folate and thiamine.These substances perform many functions to keep the body functioning optimally, including helping prevent anemia and promoting healthy metabolism.
Limandarin
Limandarin or rangpur is hybrid of tangerine and lemon. The fruit has a sweet and sour taste, orange peel and pulp. The fruit size is about 5 cm in diameter. The peel is thin and peels off easily.
Externally, Limandarin resembles a small orange, while possessing the aroma of tangerine. There are no seeds inside the fruit. The pulp has a sour taste.
Limandarin fruits are used in cooking to make marmalade. and canned, and also eaten fresh. Limandarin can be used instead of lime.
Conclusion
Citrus hybrids are valued for their variety and taste. In addition to the listed hybrids, there is also a mixture of orange and grapefruit (orangelo), a hybrid of lemon and orange called Meyer lemon, a hybrid of lime and kumquat (limequat) and many others.
If mango is considered the king of fruits, then citrus fruits form its royal court. The combination of sweet and sour flavors makes citrus fruits one of the most popular and sought after fruits in the world. All citrus fruits are similar in chemical composition: they are rich in vitamin C, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and fiber.