Oranges Vs. Tangerines: 5 Differences Between The Citrus Fruits

Everybody has encountered and tasted an orange; and hence, aware of its appearance and flavour. What would happen, though, if you were asked to distinguish between an orange and its twin, the tangerine?

Are you going to be able to tell them apart? Okay, so maybe a few of you might pull this off, but most of the people would eventually fall short. In order to dispel your confusion regarding oranges and tangerines, let’s discover their differences today.

The Origins

Oranges were first cultivated in ancient Indonesia or southern China. These days, the two main states that produce oranges are Florida and Sao Paulo, Brazil. These fruits, which are linked to other citrus kinds, are produced by the Citrus x Sinensis species. Surprisingly, oranges are a hybrid of a mandarin and a pomelo.

The first tangerine plantations were in Palatka, Florida. They got the nickname “tangerines” because they were imported through Tangier, Morocco, in the 1800s. These are crataegus tangerina tree fruits. From a botanical perspective, tangerines belong to the mandarin family. Bright reddish-orange mandarins are often mistakenly labelled as tangerines.

Flavour Profile

Oranges and tangerines are two fruits with a wide spectrum of flavours, and the variety of each fruit greatly affects its flavour.

Tangerines and oranges are both available in sweet and sour varieties. On the other hand, tangerines are often less acidic and a little sweeter than oranges. Furthermore, tangerines can have a more intense flavour profile than oranges.