View source for Tangerine

{{Taxobox
| color = Lightgreen
| name = Tangerine
| image = 
| image_width = 200px
| image_caption = A tangerine fruit
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Sapindales]]
| familia = [[Rutaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Citrus]]''
| species = '''''C. reticulata'''''
| binomial = ''Citrus reticulata''
| binomial_authority = Blanco
}}
{{otheruses}}

The '''tangerine''' (''Citrus reticulata'') is an [[orange (color)|orange]] or [[red (color)|red]] colored [[citrus]] [[fruit]]. 

They are smaller than most [[orange (fruit)|orange]]s, and the skin of some varieties peels off more easily. The [[taste]] is often more [[sour]], or tart, than that of an orange.

Good quality tangerines will be firm to slightly hard, heavy for their size, and pebbly-skinned with no deep grooves, as well as orange in color. Peak tangerine season is short, lasting from November to January in the [[Northern Hemisphere]].   

The [[Honey tangerine]], originally called a '''murcott,''' is very sweet, as its name suggests.  Other popular kinds include the [[Sunburst tangerine|Sunburst]] and [[Fairchild tangerine]]s.

One of the oldest and most popular varieties is the [[Dancy tangerine]], but it is no longer widely grown [http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/CH074]. The Dancy was known as the ''zipper-skin'' tangerine, and also as the ''kid-glove orange'', for its loose, pliable peel. Its peak season is December, so children would often receive one in their [[Christmas stocking]]s.

Tangerine flavor is used in bottled juice or [[gatorade]] [[soft drink]]s, and the fresh fruit can be used in salads, desserts and main dishes. It is, however, most commonly eaten out of hand. Tangerines are a good source of [[vitamin C]], [[folate]] and [[beta-carotene]].  They also contain some [[potassium]], [[magnesium]] and vitamins [[Thiamine|B1]], [[Riboflavin|B2]] & [[vitamin B3|B3]].

The number of seeds in each segment (carpel) varies greatly (up to 59).

Historically, the name ''tangerine'' comes from [[Tangier]], [[Morocco]], the port from which the first tangerines were shipped to Europe.  The adjective ''tangerine'', from Tangier or Tanger, was first recorded as an English word in [[1710]].

<!--'''Tangerine''' is called malta or kinnu in India. It is very easy to take the peel off, from this fruit=-->
A popular alternative to tangerines are [[clementine]]s, which are also a variant of the [[mandarin orange]].

== Production ==
{| class="wikitable" align=left style="clear:left"
! colspan=2|Top Ten Tangerines, [[Mandarin orange]], [[clementine|clementines]] Producers — 2005<br>(1000 tonnes)
|-
| {{CHN}} || align="right" | 11,395
|-
| {{ESP}} || align="right" | 2,125
|-
| {{BRA}}  || align="right" | 1,270
|-
| {{JPN}} || align="right" | 1,132
|-
| {{IRN}} || align="right" | 720
|-
| {{THA}}|| align="right" | 670
|-
| {{EGY}} || align="right" | 665
|-
| {{PAK}} || align="right" | 587
|-
| {{ITA}} || align="right" | 585.84
|-
| {{TUR}} || align="right" | 585
|-
|'''World Total''' || align="right" | '''19,734.84'''
|-
|colspan=2|''Source: <br>[[UN Food & Agriculture Organisation]] (FAO)''[http://faostat.fao.org/site/340/default.aspx]
|}
{{-}}

==See also==
*[[Citrus]]
*[[Mikan]]
*[[List of culinary fruits]]
*[[Tangerine (novel)|Tangerine]] is also a short novel.

[[Category:Citrus]]