Mandarins refer to a group of citrus fruits which includes such varieties as Satsuma, Clementine, and tangerines in general.

The terms "mandarin orange" and "tangerine" are often used interchangeably. This can be confusing, because although a tangerine is a mandarin orange, not all mandarin oranges are tangerines!

Mandarin gets its name from the bright orange robes worn by the mandarins, public officials of the ancient Chinese court. These fruits were often reserved strictly for the privileged class in the Far East. Although cultivated for over 3,000 years in China, mandarin oranges did not reach Europe and North America until the nineteenth century. The first mandarin oranges to be exported were shipped from the city of Tangiers in Morocco, hence the moniker tangerines.

Mandarins are a good source of vitamin C, folate and beta-carotene. They also contain some potassium, magnesium and vitamins B1, B2 & B3. Some can have green patches even when ripe which is perfectly normal (some non organic varieties are dyed orange!)