Bright orange tangerines are undoubtedly one of the most popular fruits in the world. Fortunately, today you can enjoy tangerines at different times of the year, and this is good news, as they are not only tasty, but also healthy. Especially some of their varieties, juicy, sweet and pitted.
Interesting facts about tangerines
- The birthplace of this fruit is Asia, more precisely, China.
- An old tangerine tree can grow up to 5 meters in height.
- In the modern world, about 50 different varieties of mandarins are cultivated.
- Some tangerine trees cannot reproduce without human help, as breeders have bred seedless varieties, and they can only be propagated by shoots. As, however, is the case with many other domesticated plants (interesting facts about cultivated plants).
- From one tangerine tree, you can collect up to 5000-7000 fruits per season.
- In addition to edible varieties of tangerines, there are also decorative ones grown solely for the sake of beauty.
- In China, tangerines are considered a symbol of wealth.
- Scientists have proven that the aroma of these fruits helps relieve stress, improves mood, invigorates and inspires.
- Tangerines help the liver break down toxins and protect it, including from obesity. They also lower bad cholesterol levels in the blood.
- To keep tangerines for a long time, they are covered with wax. Wax itself is harmless to us, but it can hide defects in the fruit.
- Along with oranges, tangerines often become the ancestors of various citrus hybrids that are actively bred by modern botanists (interesting facts about oranges).
- Scientists from the United States have discovered in the tangerine peel an anti-cancer substance – salvestrol Q40, which reduces the risk of developing this disease.
- The highest quality tangerines are those that seem too heavy for their size. They are very juicy, but in very light fruits there is little moisture, but there are too many seeds and harsh fiber, and they taste so-so.
- The shade of the ripe fruit depends on the variety and varies from yellow-orange to dark orange.
- Many tangerines sold in stores, although they look familiar, are actually hybrids with other citrus fruits. For example, tangerines or clementines.
- Picking tangerines is a laborious task. In order for these fruits to be stored well and not rot, they must not be plucked, but cut with scissors. And do it in such a way that there is no long “tail” that can pierce neighboring fruits.
- The tangerine tree is evergreen.
- The full ripening of the fruit takes from 6 to 8 months, depending on the variety and the conditions in which the tree grows.
- Mandarins do not contain nitrates. This is due to the fact that there is a lot of citric acid in fruits, which, due to its properties, neutralizes their harmful effects.
- Mandarin is the most cold-resistant of all citrus crops.
- During the Chinese Empire, tangerines were called officials, and, according to some information, only they had the right to grow these fruits in their gardens. So this name migrated from them to these citrus fruits, through the efforts of Portuguese sailors (interesting facts about Ancient China).
- A mandarin crossed with an orange is called a tangora. The tangora has bright orange flesh, a flattened shape and a sweet taste.
- A hybrid of mandarin and lemon is called citrandarine and has a sour taste.
- Tangerine oil is used as an anti-cellulite agent.
- Tangerines are a strong allergen, so they should not be consumed by those who are allergic to citrus fruits. This is especially true for children.
- Despite the popularity of tangerines all over the world, it is almost impossible to find tangerine juice on sale. This is due to the fact that during heat treatment it loses all its useful properties.
- In the world production of citrus fruits, mandarin ranks second after orange.
- Tangerines came to Europe only at the beginning of the 19th century, that is, about two hundred years ago.
- So far, no one has been able to find wild tangerines. Most likely, they simply do not exist, and the fruits that we know were brought out by ancient Chinese gardeners.