They also have a more pronounced flavor that is both sweet and tart, and their skin is easier to peel.Ĭlementines, on the other hand, are a bit smaller, more oval, and have a deep orange color. They are also sweeter with minimal acidity. Tangerines are slightly larger than clementines and have a brighter orange color. Tangerines and clementines are often mistaken for each other, but there are a few key differences between the two fruits. These citrus sisters are very similar, especially after they’re dried for longer-term storage! What’s the Difference Between a Tangerine and a Clementine? When in season, clementines should appear bright orange.Īnd if you can’t find any fresh clementines near you, for whatever reason, know that you can get dried apricots and mandarins (both examples on Amazon) which will probably check the same box flavor-wise for you. While you can find clementines year-round in many stores, they will be at their freshest and tastiest during their natural season. However, depending on the climate and region, they may be available as early as October and as late as February.Ĭlementines are often called “Christmas oranges” due to their peak season falling right around the holidays. In the US, clementines are typically in season from November to January. Which Months Are Clementines in Season?Ĭlementines are grown in many parts of the world, but most of the commercial crop is grown in Texas, California, Spain, and Morocco. Let’s take a closer look at what makes clementines so special. Clementines are also popular in baking and cooking, as their tartness can add a nice zing to recipes. The clementine season is a big factor in the overall popularity of the fruit, since it’s often used as a holiday decoration or given as a gift during the winter months. They may still be available the rest of the year, but they won’t be as fresh or tasty. This is when they are at their peak ripeness and flavor. So, when’s the best time to get your hands on this delicious fruit?Ĭlementines are in season from late October or early November to January. ![]() Thanks to Caroline S.The clementine is a small, round fruit with a deep orange color and a slightly acidic taste. It’s a hybrid of the mandarin orange and the sweet orange, named after Pierre Clement, who discovered the delectable combo. “Later in the season it gets fluffier than at other times of the year.” “They’ll actually even vary depending on how mature the fruit is,” he said. Steve Futch, an extension agent at the University of Florida’s Citrus Research and Education Center, notes that different varieties of citrus simply have different albedo characteristics, which means that sometimes you get a clementine with a fluffy albedo interior, and other times the pith is more compact. ![]() There’s an open space in the very center and sometimes you’ll find a particularly fluffy bit of albedo taking up residence. While some citrus fruits have a tight connection down their central cores, mandarins (a category that includes this clementine) don’t. It cushions the citrus from falls and other fruity collisions. This makes sense when you consider that albedo is sort of like the fruit’s natural answer to packing foam. Albedo-you see it inside the peel and also in the “core” of the fruit, and in the threads you probably pick off your orange segments-is a loose network of cells containing relatively large air pockets. Here’s why.įor the paranoid among us, the delicate, fluffy white fibers at the center of some clementines can look hauntingly like the delicate fuzz we associate with mold.įortunately, however, this is not mold, but rather “albedo,” or, the white pith inside all citrus fruits. It’s safe to eat citrus with white fluff like this inside. It’s called albedo.Įat or toss? The citrus is perfectly fine, so eat! Some people don’t eat the albedo itself because it can be bitter, but that’s a question of taste and not safety. What it is: Basically just an airier version of the white pith that lines the inside of the peel and the space between segments. What you see: A delicate white fluff in the center of your clementine (or tangerine, or other type of mandarin)
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