Finding a sweet tangerine sometimes feels like playing the lottery. Some try to determine its taste by the color of the peel, others focus on the size. There is a certain sense in these approaches, but the main thing is to know what signs to look for and which varieties are better to take.
The sweetest varieties of tangerines
“Clementine” is a popular variety, a hybrid of orange and tangerine, originally from Algeria. The fruits are bright orange, flattened from below and above, sweet and juicy. These tangerines are grown in Morocco, Spain, Italy, Algeria. This variety appears on the shelves from October.
“Murcott” is a hybrid of tangerine and tangerine, also called “honey”. Originally from Florida (USA). Also sweet, but less juicy. It often has many small seeds. This variety is imported from different countries, and is sold from November.
“Unshiu” (referred to the Satsuma variety) is a variety originally from China, grown in many countries, often imported from Georgia. The fruits are round, flattened, with a bright orange skin, slightly bumpy, which is easily separated. The fruits are often inconspicuous and matte – they are not treated with wax. This variety is fleshy and sweet, but with a slight sourness. These tangerines are seedless. And the best time to buy them is mid-December.
Usually, tangerines that ripened in a warm climate are sweeter than those that ripened in a cold one.
How to distinguish sweet tangerines from sour ones on the outside
In addition to the variety, there are three main criteria that will help determine the sweetness of a tangerine:
The skin should be intact, without damage, spots, dents or stickiness. It has been observed that bright orange tangerines are usually sweeter, although yellow varieties can also be sweet.
Weight – Choose tangerines by weight, not size. Heavier fruits have more juice, even though they may look small on the outside.
The “pus” of the tangerine (where the stem grew from) is also a good indicator of sweetness. If it is dark in color, the tangerine was picked from the tree when it was ripe.
