Darling Clementines

The Clementine orange is a carefully bred combination of the mandarin orange and the sweet orange. They contain nutrients essential for keeping the body’s immune system in its best running order. Not only do they contain Vitamin C, Calcium, potassium and fiber, but also are low in calories. A Clementine is just about 35 calories and 8 grams of carbohydrates.

Legend has it that a French cleric first bred this delicious fruit in Algeria more than a hundred years ago. Since then, and until the late 1990s, they were mostly enjoyed in Europe, particularly in France.

In the modern United States, Clementine oranges are grown principally in the state of Florida. They’re easy to identify, too. Their deep orange color is almost a dusky red, and they’re also known for their lustrous, almost shiny gleam. They’re commonly marketed as “cuties” or “sweeties,” and their availability around Christmastime follows their November – January harvest season.

Clementine Oranges’ Many Virtues

 

Clementine oranges are seedless, meaning the pulp is easy to enjoy as a snack. They are easy to peel, so they make a great snack to enjoy at lunchtime or for a mid-afternoon pick me up.

Clementine Oranges’ Rich Decorative Potential

 

The orange is actually a traditional Christmas gift dating back to the Middle Ages. In modern times, they’re often used as centerpieces to holiday dinners, as part of a larger arrangement of flowers and fruits at holiday receptions, and as mantel decorations alongside other traditional Christmas decorative elements like holly, apples and pears, and fig branches.

Giving Clementines as Gifts

 

Clementines are commonly sold in stores in cardboard crates or boxes. Still, you can do better when giving them as gifts. They’re available in a variety of different decorative baskets and boxes, so they’re ideal not just as Christmas gifts but also throughout the early part of the year.