Temecula Sweets Tangerines
Estimated Inventory, lb : 0
Description/Taste
Temecula Sweet tangerines are a large mandarin variety, with a bumpy and irregularly shaped exterior. They are round with flat bottoms and are medium in size. The rind is a pale to dark orange and is often accentuated with a ring of wrinkled skin at the stem end. The dark orange flesh sits loosely within the wrinkled, easy-to-peel rind, and the segments separate easily. Temecula Sweet tangerines are juicy, the heavier the fruit, the juicier the flesh. They have low acidity and a high sugar content, giving them a sweet flavor without being too tart. The pulp offers notes of honey and contains few to no seeds.
Seasons/Availability
Temecula Sweet tangerines are available in the late winter and through the spring months.
Current Facts
Temecula Sweet tangerines are a botanical cultivar of Citrus reticulata. They have a very rough and rugged exterior, earning them the name “Ugly tangerine”. The wrinkly-skinned tangerines, or mandarins, are only available in Southern California. For this reason, they have been called “rare” or “elusive”. They are popular for their flavor and easy-peeling, or zipper-skin, qualities.
Nutritional Value
Temecula Sweet tangerines are high in vitamin C as well as flavonoids, which together make the citrus fruits high in antioxidants. They are also an excellent source of vitamin A and dietary fiber, and a good source of thiamin, vitamin B6, and folate. They contain essential minerals like calcium, magnesium and potassium.
Applications
Temecula Sweet tangerines are ideal for fresh eating, whether straight from the peel, added to salads, or combined with other fruits. They can be added to smoothies or juiced and used in desserts or other beverages. Store Temecula Sweet tangerines at room temperature for up to a week, and in the refrigerator for up to two more weeks.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Temecula Sweet tangerines are only available in and around the small, Riverside County town of Temecula. Temecula is located about half-way between San Diego and Los Angeles, and is well-known known for its vineyards and sprawling hillsides.
Geography/History
Temecula Sweet tangerines are the result of a cross made between two Asian mandarin varieties: the ponkan and the satsuma. The cross was made by C.T. Lin in a Montana greenhouse during the early 1980s. After moving to the Southern California town of Temecula, the first trees were planted in 1991. Lin sold half of his Temecula property to Norm Jones, a retired airline pilot, who now manages the orchard. The trees grow on a 24-acre orchard near the Santa Margarita River, located between Temecula and the Pacific Ocean. Changes in the climate during the growing season can affect the length of the season as well as the level of sweetness in the pulp. Temecula Sweet tangerines are rare outside of the Southern California region where they are grown. There they can be spotted at local specialty markets.
