Tangerine
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{{Taxobox | color = lightgreen | name = Tangerine | image = Tangerine closeup.jpg | image_width = 200px | image_caption = A tangerine fruit | regnum = Plantae | divisio = Magnoliophyta | classis = Magnoliopsida | ordo = Sapindales | familia = Rutaceae | genus = Citrus | species = C. reticulata | binomial = Citrus reticulata | binomial_authority = Blanco }}
- For other uses, see Tangerine (disambiguation).
The Tangerine (Citrus reticulata) is an orange or red colored citrus fruit, a type of mandarin orange.
They are slightly smaller than oranges, and their skin peels off more easily. Good quality tangerines will be firm to slightly soft, heavy for their size and pebbly-skinned with no deep grooves. Their flavor is often more sour and more sweet than that of an orange. The Honey Tangerine, which was originally called a murcott, is very sweet as its name suggests. One of the most popular kind is the Dancy Tangerine variety. Another popular kind is the Fairchild Tangerine.
The flavor is commonly used in bottle juice or soft drinks in North America, but is also enjoyable in salads, desserts, and main dishes. Tangerines are a good source of vitamin C, folate and beta-carotene. They also contain some potassium, magnesium and vitamins B1, B2 & B3.
The number of seeds in each segment (carpel) varies greatly.
Historically the name tangerine comes from Tangier, Morocco, the port from which the first tangerines were shipped to Europe. The adjective tangerine, from Tangier or Tanger, was already an English word (first recorded in 1710).
See also
Tangerine is called malta or kinnu in India. It is very easy to take the peel off, from this fruit