Clementines

A stockperson asked yesterday what are Clementines. As Clementines are my favorite citrus fruit, I figured I would share the answer with you all.

Clementines are a cross between a sweet orange and a Chinese mandarin orange. They are almost completely seedless, very sweet, with thin skins. They make perfect snacks or a great dessert.

"The origin of clementines is shrouded in mystery. Some attribute their discovery to father Clement, a monk in Algeria, who tending his mandarin garden in the orphanage of Misserghim, found a natural mutation. He nurtured the fruit tree and subsequently called it "clementino". Others, like Japanese botanist Tanaka, believe that clementines must have originated in Asia and found their way through human migration to the Mediterranean. Whatever their origin, the fact is that clementines found their natural climate and soil in Spain, where they developed their particular aroma, sweetness and taste. Commercial production of clementines began in Spain in 1925." http://www.producepete.com/shows/clementines.html

While commerical pridcution began in the 1820s, Clementines did not begin selling in the US until relatively recently (as late as the mid 1980s) Reportedly US sales began after a freeze in Florida forced the US to import citrus from Europe. Source: ProducePete:

Although there is now some US production, the bulk of the Clementines are still imported from Southern Europe and Northern Africa.

Go ahead and try some, you will love them!!

Other source:

http://www.darlingclem.com/history_of_clementines.html