They light up the stalls in winter, overflowing with vitamins and delight our taste buds… But how can we tell the difference between a mandarin and one clementine ? If their appearance is deceptive, a few details make it easy to distinguish them.
Origin: a history of several centuries
There mandarin is an ancient fruit, cultivated in Asia for over 3000 years. It is one of the oldest citrus fruits and has given rise to several varieties.
There clementineit is much more recent. From a natural hybridization between a mandarin tree and an orange tree, it would have been discovered at the beginning of the 20th century in Algeria by the monk Brother Clementhence its name. She was then cultivated in Corsica since the 1920s and is now a winter essential.
How to recognize them easily?
If their color and size are close, some physical clues allow you to differentiate them at a single glance:
- The size : There tangerine is bigger than clementine;
- The skin : There tangerine has a thicker, rough skindifficult to peel. There clementineshe has a thin and smooth skinvery easy to remove;
- The glitches : There tangerine contains more seedswhile the clementine has few, if any.
What are the nutritional differences?
These two fruits are full of vitamins and fiberbut there are some variations:
- Mandarin : 60 kcal/100gslightly sweeter;
- Clementine : 40 kcal/100glighter and just as rich in vitamin C.
In any case, these two citrus fruits remain perfect healthy snacks to face winter and boost your immunity.
Mandarin or clementine: which one to choose?
It all depends on preferences! Do you like citrus fruits that are seedless and easy to peel? Opt for clementine. Do you prefer a more fragrant fruit, even if it is a little more difficult to taste? Mandarin is made for you!
Now that you know the differences, you can shine in society and above all choose the fruit that suits you best during your next shopping.