What is the difference between clementines and tangerines and which is healthier?

Clementines and tangerines are representatives of citrus fruits that are similar in appearance. And this is not surprising, because clementines were obtained by crossing a mandarin orange with a king orange. At first glance, it is difficult, and sometimes even impossible, to distinguish them from each other. Market sellers do not differentiate between them, and instead of tangerines, we often take home clementines. You will learn in this article what to look for when purchasing and how to distinguish fruits from each other.

What are clementines

Clementine (lat. Citrus clementina) is a hybrid form of mandarin and king orange. Belongs to the Citrus genus, Rutaceae family.

Clementines are shaped like tangerines, but have a sweeter taste. The leaves are dense, small in size, on a short, slightly winged petiole, pointed, jagged along the edges. There are spines in the axils of the leaves.

The fruits are small in size, with a dense orange peel that fits tightly to the juicy pulp.

Clementines contain biologically active substances, carotenoids, minerals and bioflavonoids, and a large amount of vitamin C.

Clementine varieties:

1. Corsican. They go on sale with leaves for better preservation of the fruit. The peel is bright orange, the aroma is rich, the flesh is juicy, sweet without seeds.
2. Spanish. The fruits are small and medium in size. The peel is yellow or bright orange. The number of seeds in juicy slices is 2-10, depending on the size of the fruit.
3. Montreal. Rarely found on sale, characterized by late ripening. The pulp contains 10-12 seeds. The taste is sweet, slightly cloying, with a long aftertaste.
4. Rubino. The fruits are medium in size, with a thick skin. The flesh and skin are bright red. The taste is sweet and pleasant.

Origin and distribution

It was bred by the French breeder and priest Clément Rodier in 1902. The name of the fruit comes from his name. The growing area is Mediterranean countries (Morocco, Spain, Algeria, Italy).

Beneficial features

Benefits of clementines for the body:

• increasing immunity;
• improving heart function and strengthening blood vessels;
• improved appetite and digestive function;
• positive effect on vision;
• general toning and strengthening of the body;
• improving mood, preventing depression;
• improvement of problem skin;
• eliminating dandruff.

Reference. Clementine juice and essential oil have a pronounced dermatological effect. They are recommended for use in the treatment of scars, scars, warts, stretch marks, psoriasis, cellulite and oily seborrhea.

What are tangerines

Mandarin (lat. Citrus reticulata) is a plant from the genus Citrus, family Rutaceae.

The height of a young tree does not exceed 4 m, an adult – 5 m. The root system is powerful, spreading, exceeding the diameter of the crown. Young shoots are dark green, mature branches are brown. The lifespan of a tangerine is 80-100 years.

The leaves are small, elliptical or ovate, pointed at the ends, with a dense structure. Petioles with or without porches. Foliage is renewed once every 4 years.

The trees bloom from April to June. The flowers are arranged in pairs - white or cream in color and smell pleasant.The type of pollination is independent.

The fruits have an average diameter of 4-6 cm, round in shape, slightly flattened. The pulp is juicy, sweet, yellow-orange. The number of cloves is 10-12 cloves with spindle-shaped juice sacs. Weight – 30-100 g. Maximum sugar content – ​​13.5%.

The peel, or flavedo in scientific terms, is yellow or orange, thick, easily removed from ripe fruits, and contains glands with essential oil.

Under the peel there is an inner albedo layer with a loose structure. At the early stage of fetal formation, it serves as a source of moisture.

The first harvest is harvested 3-4 years after planting in October-December. Fruiting lasts 6-7 months. The yield from one tree is 500-1000 fruits per year. The indicator varies depending on the variety and health of the plant, and growing conditions.

Origin and distribution

The culture is native to Southeast Asia, as are most varieties of citrus fruits. The ancestor of tangerines is the citron. Fossilized remains of citrus fruits from the late Miocene (8-6 million BC) were found in Yunnan province.

Tangerines appeared in Europe at the beginning of the 19th century. Neapolitan Michel Tenor Tree brought the tangerine tree in 1840. At first, their plant was grown in greenhouses, then in open ground in the south of France and Italy, in countries with a mild climate.

There are two versions of the origin of the name: either from well-born Chinese officials, mandarins, or from their orange clothes.

The crop is grown in India, China, Japan and South Korea, Italy, Spain, Greece, France, Egypt, Turkey, Morocco, Algeria, Argentina and Brazil, Georgia, Abkhazia, Azerbaijan, and Transcaucasia.

There are several varieties of tangerines. They differ in appearance and taste:

1. Abkhazian. The fruits are small in size with a thin peel of yellow or light orange color. There are green streaks or spots on the surface. The pulp is sweet and sour, juicy, practically without seeds. The peel is loose and peels off easily.
2. Turkish. The fruits are small in size, with a light yellow or orange skin. The sweetness of the pulp depends on the color of the skin; the darker it is, the more sugar. The peel is thin and difficult to peel. There are many seeds in the slices.
3. Moroccan. Small tangerines with a slightly flattened shape. The skin is thin, golden-orange, and easy to peel. The pulp is sweet, without sourness, juicy. There are no seeds.
4. Spanish. The fruits are large in size, with a thick skin of rich orange color. Tangerines are easy to peel. The pulp is sweet with a slight sourness, practically seedless, very juicy.
5. Chinese. The fruits are small in size, with thin skin of light yellow color. Rarely found on sale. The taste is sweet and sour, the smell is pronounced.
6. Israeli. Tangerines are medium-sized, with an orange peel that is difficult to separate from the pulp. The taste is balanced, sweet and sour. Seeds are contained in large fruits in small quantities.

Beneficial features

When consumed regularly, the fruits:

• calm the nervous system;
• relieve pain and inflammation;
• reduce microbial activity;
• reduce the risk of cancer;
• regulate blood cholesterol levels;
• normalize digestion and intestinal function;
• prevent the development of stroke and heart cancer;
• accelerate cell renewal;
• remove uric acid;
• relieve spasms of the upper respiratory tract;
• maintain and improve visual acuity;
• normalize the menstrual cycle;
• give a boost of energy;
• eliminate toxicosis and swelling during pregnancy;
• brighten and cleanse the skin, improve complexion;
• slow down the aging process;
• strengthen the hair follicle and reduce sebum secretion;
• increase potency and endurance in men.

Read also:

Health benefits and harms of tangerines, energy value.

Ways to use tangerine peels for maximum benefit.

Comparison of characteristics of tangerine and clementine

Is there a difference between clementines and tangerines? The comparative table presents the main characteristics of the fruits.

Tangerines and clementines are equally beneficial for health and there is no significant difference in the chemical composition between them.

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Conclusion

Clementine is a direct relative of the mandarin. The culture was developed by the French priest Clément Rodier at the beginning of the twentieth century, and since then it has spread throughout the Mediterranean coast.

At first glance, the fruits of tangerine and clementine are similar, but upon closer examination it turns out that the color and structure of their peel are different. In clementine it is dense, thin, shiny, and rich orange in color. The tangerine has a thick, loose, yellow or light orange skin that is easily separated from the pulp. Clementines are always sweet and have no acid.Ripe tangerines have a refreshing sweet and sour taste.