Mandarin
Mandarin (Citrus reticulata) is one of the original citrus species and is native to Southeast China.
Mandarins have been cultivated in Asia for thousands of years and are now among the world's most popular citrus fruits.
Mandarins are smaller than oranges and have a thin peel that is easy to remove. The flesh is sweet, juicy, and divided into segments. Their sweet flavour and easy-to-peel skin make them a popular snack and ingredient in desserts.
Research into plant genetics has shown that mandarin is one of the few ancestral citrus species from which most modern citrus fruits are descended. Together with citron, pomelo, and kumquat, mandarin has played an important role in the development of many of the citrus fruits we know today.
Although we often refer to all small citrus fruits as mandarins, many of those found in supermarkets are actually clementines. A clementine is a hybrid between a mandarin and a sweet orange, whereas the true mandarin is one of the original citrus species.
The clementine is a good example of how humans have created many of the citrus fruits we know today through cultivation and crossbreeding.
Without the mandarin, many of the citrus fruits we eat today would not exist. For this reason, it is considered one of the most important ancestral species within the citrus genus.
Facts:
- Greenhouse location: The Mountain Forest House
- Danish name: Mandarin
- Latin name: Citrus reticulata
- Family: Rue family / Rutaceae
- Natural habitat: Southeast China