It is not difficult to distinguish an orange from a mandarin, there are several properties that clearly define the specific type of citrus. Obviously, doubts creep in when hybrids are in front of you. Today they are widely represented on fruit counters, and often they are sold under the general name "Mandarin". In fact, it can be clementines - hybrids of mandarin with an orange-king, natsumikans and tangelos - hybrids of mandarin and grapefruit, tangors - hybrids of mandarin with orange, etc. But if you need to determine what is in front of you - an orange or real mandarin, then you should know the specific differences.
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Instruction manual
1
The size. Orange is always larger than mandarin orange. True, recently you can see quite large tangerines, as a rule, these are citrus fruits grown in Turkey and Abkhazia. In diameter, they can reach 7.5 cm, while ordinary tangerines have a diameter of 4 to 6 cm. However, a large mandarin from an orange can be distinguished by a slightly flattened shape.
2
The form. Orange is always round (or slightly elongated in the upper part), mandarin, in contrast to it, is flattened from the top to the base. That is, the width of the mandarin is always greater than the height.
3
Color. Orange is orange, real mandarin is bright yellow. But most hybrids have an intense orange color.
4
Peel. An orange is thicker and denser than a mandarin. Peeling an orange is much more difficult than tangerine, because the peel is firmly attached to the pulp. In tangerine, it is thin, it easily lags behind the pulp (if it does not separate well, then the tangerine was ripened unripe). Sometimes even between the peel and mandarin slices there is an air gap, such a fruit can be peeled in one go.
5
If you bite the peel of an orange, you will feel bitterness and burning on the lips and mouth. The tangerine peel does not cause such sensations, maybe a little.
6
The aroma. Mandarin has a stronger aroma than an orange. It is no coincidence that in almost all people - both children and adults, it is associated with the New Year (i.e., the aroma is memorable). Orange, alas, does not cause such associations, although its aroma is fresh and pleasant.
7
Pulp. Orange slices are much more difficult to separate than mandarin. In the latter, they are sometimes separated from each other during the cleaning process from the peel.
8
Taste. Mandarin always tastes sweeter than an orange. Orange slices have significantly more acid.
9
Bones. There are always bones in the pulp of an orange; in real tangerines, there are no bones.