Tangerines look like oranges, as they are from the citrus fruit family. They are usually small in size, little bit loose, easy to peel and are juicier than oranges. In Europe, it is popular as Mandarin Oranges. There are seedless variations of mandarins found in Japan known as Satsuma mandarin. This tangy and tasty fruit is believed to have its origin in South Eastern forests in China. These days, it is grown widely in many countries around the globe like South Africa, California and Philippines. Today, it is considered as a very important commercial crop. People all round the globe prefer this fruit to be added to their healthy diet.
Tangerine tree also is similar to the orange tree. But its branches are thinner and have leaves that are deep green in color. The skin of tangerine is dark orange in color and is very easy to peel. There are around eight to ten arils inside the skin.
There are hybrid varieties of tangerine such as Tangors, Clementines, Tangelos, Yuzu fruit. Tangors is a mix of tangerine and orange. They are large in size and have a sweet tart flavor which is much similar to that of oranges. Tangelos are a hybrid of grapefruit, tangerine and orange. Like the tangerines, tangelos have loose skin with much juicy flesh. They can be distinguished from oranges with the help of the knob at the top part of the fruit.
Clementines are a mix of mandarin and sweet orange. They are much smaller and have skin that is much smooth and shiny. The segments are juicy and sweet, and do not contain seeds. Yuzu fruit is a hybrid of C inchngenesis and mandarin orange. They have a fragrance similar to that of lime and have a tart flavor.
- Oranges are low in calories. They have flavanoid antioxidants like naringenin, vitamin A, Carotenes, naringin, hesperetin, xanthins in them which are much higher than found in oranges.
- Like most of the citrus fruits, tangerines too are rich in vitamin C, which is a vitamin that is water soluble. Studies show that vitamin C is a natural antioxidant that is very much powerful and which plays a major role in healing wounds, anti cancerous, helps in synthesizing collagen, helps to prevent arthritis, cold, fever, and diseases that cause harm to the neurons. It does so by removing the free radicals present in the body. Iron is absorbed easily when Vitamin C is present in the body.
- Tangerines have natural soluble as well as insoluble fiber, such as pectin and hemicelluloses. These prevent the absorption of cholesterol in the gut. It is very essential to have fiber in our food since it helps in preventing constipation as it acts as a laxative.Most of the citrus fruits have nutritional value, and also antioxidant properties that no other fruit has. It can be seen that citrus fruits are loaded with vitamins as well as minerals and give a lot of benefits to our health. The fiber content which is both soluble and insoluble, is also good for our health.
Selecting and storing the fruit
Tangerines are usually found in winter season. It is available in stores all through the year. Fresh fruits bring orange in color and are heavy to feel. Do not buy fruits that have spots on them and are very soft or go hollow while holding.
To extend the shelf life, most of the citrus fruits are washed and coated with wax. Even though it is safe to have them, waxing the skin has a lot of disadvantages for our health.Preparing and serving the fruit
Tangerine has a thick natural coating that protects the arils from dirt and dust. All you need to do is clean the outer portion with the help of a moist cloth. Peel off the skin with bare hands and take out the pith. The seeds are not dangerous but are very bitter in taste.
Tangerines can be consumed as it is, or can be made into refreshing drinks. It can be made into sauces, syrups and even more. It can be added to salads, added as a flavor to biscuits, cakes and ice creams. The skin of tangerine can be candied just like orange peel.
Make sure to wash or wipe with a wet cloth to remove the insecticides that are sprayed on them. Or else the fruit is very healthy and nutritious and helps to give the right nutrients to the body.
