Tangerines Are a Great Source of Vitamin C in Citrus Fruits

Are you craving a healthy, juicy treat but you are not hungry enough to eat a whole citrus fruit such as an orange or a grapefruit? Well mother nature whipped up the perfect answer to satisfy you; eat a tangerine! Not only are they tinier than most citrus fruits, they are much more manageable than other citrus fruits if eating them in a public place such as the office or a school cafeteria. No need to be embarrassed of not being able to dig your gnawed-off fingernails into the peel to free slippery snack from its case, because tangerines are much easier to peel. They are also much more cooperative when trying to split them into bite-size segments than the rest of the members in the citrus fruits family.

Determining which one is tangerine in the citrus fruits section is easy. You can tell a tangerine form an orange by its pebble-like orange skin that can fit in the palm of your hand. As for taste, they are typically less tart than a full-size orange. Many people confuse Tangerines and Clementines in the citrus fruits section because of their similar appearance however, Clementines are actually a citrus variant of the mandarin orange. When your tongue is tingling for a tangerine, make sure you are making the right choice.

The best time to harvest these citrus fruits is from October to April, in the Northern hemisphere. Tangerines thrive under weather conditions that are not too hot, yet warm enough to keep the crops from freezing. Not only do tangerines need an adequate temperature for budding, they also need full sunlight exposure and like all living things, their share of water. Tangerine trees require water at least twice a month and the water should be poured into the roots slowly, allowing the water to sink in deep. Most farmers suggest watering with a soaking hose for best results for a least a few hour per session. Newly planted trees hat grow citrus fruits are just like newborn babies, require more care than your average established tangerine tree; these trees must be watered at least once a week during its first growing season.

To keep your tangerine tree growing properly, it is important to weed the surrounding areas to make room for the roots. It is advised to weed your tangerine tree out past the tree’s canopy. The easiest way to protect your citrus fruit trees is by wrapping it in aluminum foil with loosely crinkled edges. This protects the tree from weed killers or any other chemical used to enhance the growth rate of your tangerine tree. However, this is not necessary if you are growing an organic tangerine tree.

Citrus fruits will add a nutritional blast to your daily diet. Your average tangerine weighs in at approximately 84 grams and is mainly composed of water. Of course there are calories, carbohydrates and sugar, but because the fruit is so small it is almost impossible to over indulge if you eat a full one. This is why there are so many recipes that include tangerines, such as Tangerine Curd, Pork Roast Tangerine, and Tangerine Peel Chicken. They can compliment almost any dish! When gathering your ingredients for such feasts, trust your nose to do the choosing; the best tangerines produce a very strong and sweet smell emulating for their skin.

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