Tangerine

Tangerine — The tangerine (Citrus reticulata) is an orange or red colored citrus fruit. They are smaller than most oranges, and the skin of some varieties peels off more easily. The taste is often less sour, or tart, than that of an orange.

Good quality tangerines will be firm to slightly hard, heavy for their size, and pebbly-skinned with no deep grooves, as well as orange in color. Peak tangerine season is short, lasting from November to January in the Northern Hemisphere.

The Honey tangerine, originally called a murcott, is very sweet, as its name suggests. Other popular kinds include the Sunburst and Fairchild tangerines.

One of the oldest and most popular varieties is the Dancy tangerine, but it is no longer widely grown. The Dancy was known as the zipper-skin tangerine, and also as the kid-glove orange, for its loose, pliable peel. Its peak season is December, so children would often receive one in their Christmas stockings.

Tangerines are most commonly peeled and eaten out of hand. The fresh fruit is also used in salads, desserts and main dishes. Fresh tangerine juice and frozen juice concentrate are commonly available in the United States. Tangerines are a good source of vitamin C, folate and beta-carotene. They also contain some potassium, magnesium and vitamins B1, B2 & B3.