Wholesale Mandarin

01.
A Bit of Botany

The tree is generally smaller and more slender than the sweet orange tree, reaching heights of 10 to 15 feet. Its thin branches often have small thorns and dark, shiny leaves. In early spring, it produces highly aromatic, small white flowers. The resulting fruit is distinctive for being slightly flattened at the poles with a thin, loose, bright orange rind that peels away easily from the sweet, juicy segments inside.

Nomenclature and Common Names

It is most frequently referred to as mandarin, tangerine, or mandarin orange. The botanical source is Citrus reticulata Blanco. The term "tangerine" originally applied to a specific reddish-orange variety of mandarin but is now often used interchangeably with mandarin in many regions.

02.
e: Where in the World

habitat and range for mandarin

The plant is native to tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, with its origins strongly traced to ancient China. Due to its popularity and adaptability, it has been widely introduced and is now commercially cultivated in citrus-growing regions across the globe, including the Mediterranean, the Americas, and parts of Africa.

03.
Cultivation & Harvesting

considerations for growing mandarin

• Climate - Mandarins thrive in subtropical to tropical climates and require full, direct sunlight for optimal growth and fruit sweetening. They are notably more cold-hardy than most other sweet citrus varieties, able to tolerate brief drops in temperature.
• Soil - The trees prefer well-draining, slightly acidic to neutral soils. They do not tolerate waterlogged root systems, making good drainage essential.
• Growing - Cultivation is typically done through grafting onto hardier rootstocks to ensure disease resistance and consistent fruit quality. The trees require regular, deep watering during fruit development but need a drier period leading up to the harvest to concentrate the sugars.
• Harvesting - The fruits are harvested in late autumn to winter. Because the skin is so loose and delicate, they are often carefully clipped from the branch by hand rather than pulled, which prevents tearing the rind and exposing the fruit to rapid spoilage.
• Preserving - After processing mandarin tangerine fruit juice into powder, store the product in a sealed container in a cool place with low humidity and away from direct sunlight. The powder is hygroscopic, so it is required to use the entirety of the product immediately after opening the bag.

04.
The Rest of the Story

Mandarin history, folklore, literature & more

The mandarin has a deeply rooted history in Chinese culture, where it has been cultivated for over three millennia. The fruit is historically considered a symbol of abundance, good fortune, and prosperity, frequently exchanged as gifts during Lunar New Year celebrations. The English name "mandarin" is believed to derive from the brightly colored orange robes worn by the Mandarins, the high-ranking public officials of the imperial Chinese court. The alternate name "tangerine" emerged much later, named after the port city of Tangier in Morocco, which served as a major historical export hub for the fruit into Europe and North America.

Flavor Profile

The powder delivers a sweet, characteristic citrus flavor.