The common confusion between mandarins and tangerines is understandable, as the terms are often used interchangeably in grocery stores and everyday conversation. This interchangeable use obscures an important hierarchical relationship within the citrus family. Understanding how these fruits are botanically classified offers a clear explanation for how they relate to one another.
The Citrus Family Tree: Defining the Relationship
The core distinction lies in botanical classification, where the term “mandarin” refers to the broad species Citrus reticulata. This species is one of the original citrus types from which many modern varieties have been developed. Mandarins are the overarching category for small, easy-to-peel citrus fruits.
Tangerines, scientifically designated as Citrus tangerina or a cultivar group within Citrus reticulata, are a specific type of mandarin. All tangerines are technically mandarins, but not all mandarins are tangerines. The name “tangerine” is derived from the port of Tangier, Morocco, through which a variety of reddish-orange mandarin was first shipped to Europe.
Almost every small, loose-skinned citrus fruit you encounter in the produce aisle, including the tangerine, falls under the broad botanical umbrella of the mandarin. The mandarin is the parent species.
Key Differences in Appearance and Flavor
While all are mandarins, tangerines exhibit traits that distinguish them from other fruits within the group. Tangerines typically have a deeper, more reddish-orange hue to their peel compared to the lighter orange of many other mandarins. Their skin is often described as slightly tougher and glossier, with a somewhat pebble-like texture.
Tangerines tend to offer a pronounced sweet-tart balance. They are less sweet and slightly more acidic than some of their mandarin cousins. This distinct flavor profile is a primary reason for their commercial labeling.
Tangerines are usually rounder and often larger than some other popular varieties. This combination of a darker, slightly tougher peel, a rounder shape, and a tarter flavor helps shoppers identify a fruit labeled as a tangerine.
Other Common Mandarin Relatives
Tangerines are one of many commercial varieties belonging to the mandarin species, alongside popular fruits such as Clementines and Satsumas. Clementines are a hybrid of a mandarin and a sweet orange, recognizable by their smooth, shiny, and deep-orange skin. They are smaller than tangerines and are valued for being seedless and exceptionally sweet.
Satsumas are another distinct variety of mandarin, known for being easy to peel, sometimes to the point of fragility. They have a thin, slightly bumpy skin that is looser than that of a tangerine. Other types, such as the Murcott, sometimes marketed as a “Honey Tangerine,” also fit into this larger Citrus reticulata group, illustrating the wide diversity of the mandarin category.