Mandarin orange

The name mandarin orange is a calque of Swedish mandarin apelsin [apelsin from German Apfelsine (Apfel + Sina), meaning Chinese apple], first attested in the 18th century. The Imperial Chinese term "mandarine" was first adopted by the French for this fruit. The reason for the epithet is not clear. Citrus reticulata is from Latin, where reticulata means "netted". == Description ==

Tree Citrus reticulata is a moderate-sized tree some in height. Fruit Mandarin orange fruits are small . == Evolution ==

Origins of mandarin and either citron or pomelo. Some mandarins are the original wild species, but most are hybrids. Domestication Mandarins appear to have been domesticated at least twice, in the north and south Nanling Mountains, derived from separate wild subspecies. Wild mandarins are still found there, including Daoxian mandarines (sometimes given the species name Citrus daoxianensis) as well as some members of the group traditionally called 'Mangshan wild mandarins', a generic grouping for the wild mandarin-like fruit of the Mangshan area that includes both true mandarins (mangshanyeju, the southern subspecies) and the genetically distinct and only distantly-related Mangshanyegan. The wild mandarins were found free of the introgressed pomelo (C. maxima) DNA found in domestic mandarins. Still, they did appear to have small amounts (~1.8%) of introgression from the ichang papeda, which grows wild in the same region. The Nanling Mountains are home to northern and southern genetic clusters of domestic mandarins that have similar levels of sugars in the fruit compared to their wild relatives but appreciably (in some almost 90-fold) lower levels of citric acid. The clusters display different patterns of pomelo introgression, have different deduced historical population histories, and are most closely related to distinct wild mandarins, suggesting two independent domestications in the north and south. All tested domesticated cultivars belong to one of these two genetic clusters, with varieties such as Nanfengmiju, Kishu, and Satsuma from the northern domestication event producing larger, redder fruit, while varieties such as Willowleaf, Dancy, Sunki, Cleopatra, King, and Ponkan belong to the smaller, yellower-fruited southern cluster. In the genomic-based species taxonomy of Ollitrault et al., only pure wild type mandarins would fall under C. reticulata, while the pomelo admixture found in the majority of mandarins would cause them to be classified as varieties of the hybrid bitter orange, C. aurantium. Genetic analysis is consistent with continental mandarins representing a single species, varying due to hybridization. They have some pomelo DNA, like all domesticated mandarins. == Production ==

In 2024, world production of mandarin oranges (combined with tangerines and clementines in reporting to FAOSTAT) was 52 million tonnes, led by China with 51% of the total. Turkey produced two million tonnes in 2024, with Spain and Egypt as other significant producers. == Uses ==

Nutrition A raw mandarin orange is 85% water, 13% carbohydrates, and contains negligible amounts of fat and protein (table). In a reference amount of , a mandarin orange supplies 53 calories of food energy, and only vitamin C as 30% of the Daily Value, with all other micronutrients in low amounts (table). Culinary Mandarins have a stronger and sweeter taste than sweet oranges. They are peeled and eaten fresh or used in salads, desserts and main dishes. Fresh mandarins are used in the production of the liqueur Mandarine Napoléon. The peel is used fresh, whole or as zest, or dried as chenpi. It can be used as a spice for cooking, baking, drinks, or candy. Essential oil from the fresh peel may be used as a flavoring for candy, in gelatins, ice cream, chewing gum, and baked goods. It is used as a flavoring in some liqueurs. File:Cinpi2 (cropped).jpg|Dried mandarin peel used as a seasoning File:Chocolate coated citrus peel 01.jpg|Chocolate-coated citrus peel File:Fresh Fruit Dessert.jpg|Mandarins in a fresh fruit salad File:Galler Mandarine Napoléon Lait split (22567613826).jpg|Chocolate flavored with Mandarine Napoléon == Fruit rind oil ==

The oils expressed from the peel/rind of mandarin are used as flavor and fragrance materials. Compositional differences arise from both cultivar and stage of fruit ripeness (green - unripe; yellow - partially ripe; and "red" - fully ripe). In general, the aroma of the peel oils are described as "citrus, floral, bitter orange, orange, terpenic, aldehydic, orange rind, neroli". == Cultural significance ==

In North America, mandarins are commonly purchased in 5- or 10-pound boxes, Satsumas were grown in the United States from the early 1900s. Still, Japan remained a major supplier. U.S. imports of these Japanese oranges was suspended due to hostilities with Japan during World War II. Historically, the Christmas fruit sold in North America was mostly Dancys, but now it is more often a hybrid. This Japanese tradition merged with European traditions related to the Christmas stocking. Saint Nicholas is said to have put gold coins into the stockings of three poor girls so that they would be able to afford to get married. Sometimes the story is told with gold balls instead of bags of gold, and oranges became a symbolic stand-in for these gold balls, and are put in Christmas stockings in Canada. Their use as Christmas gifts probably spread from the Japanese immigrant community. Mandarin oranges are mentioned in Sinclair Ross' 1942 novel, As for Me and My House, and his 1939 short story, Cornet at Night. == See also ==