Mandarin orange

This small, somewhat flattened variety of orange is distinguished by its loose, easily peeled, “kid glove” skin (although, if the skin is too loose and puffy, the fruit should be avoided, because this is a sign it is overripe and dry). Mandarins originated in China dating back as far as 2000 B.C. The tangerine member of the mandarin family was introduced to Europe early in the nineteenth century and reached the United States a few decades later. Mandarins and their hybrids are among the most versatile fruits around, low in calories and high in both vitamins and minerals, and easy to section with your hands. Mandarins are divided into three classifications: the strictly Japanese satsumas; tangerines; and a range of hybrids. Retailers (and wholesalers) tend to generalize and market all of the smaller, deep orange fruits that have a short neck and puffy skin as tangerines, including the satsumas (however, the larger tangelos, a hybrid discussed below, are usually identified correctly).