You may also have heard of tangerines, or Citrus tangerine, which boasts a more reddish-orange peel. It grows widely across warm temperate to tropical climates, including parts of China, Brazil, Spain, and the Philippines ( 1, 2). The common mandarin, also known as Citrus reticulate Blanco or Ponkan mandarins, is another popular type. This type is typically associated with Japan, though it also grows readily in the Gulf Coast region and other areas of the Southern United States ( 1, 2). There are several popular types of mandarins, including satsuma mandarins, or Citrus unshiu. Rather, they’re oblong, resembling a sphere with a flattened top and bottom.

Though they share an orange exterior, mandarins are a different species of citrus from oranges, which belong to Citrus sinensis ( 3). You may hear mandarins referred to as “mandarin oranges,” but this is not an accurate description. As they ripen, they change from a deep green to their recognizable orange color and grow to a width of about 1.6–3 inches (4–8 cm) ( 1, 2). Mandarins grow on flowering small- to moderately-sized citrus trees.

Their peel is deep-orange, leathery, and protects the sweet, juicy segments inside. It’s believed they originated in ancient China, which is how they got their name.

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