
Mandarins are distinguished by their thin peel and exactly nine segments Difference 3: segments For this reason, you may prefer the seedless clementine. Unlike clementines, mandarins have seeds in their flesh, which can be a nuisance when eating. Difference 2: pipsĪnother difference between these citrus fruits is the pips. This is a cross between a mandarin and an orange, which, unlike the clementine and mandarin, originates from Japan. Note: The satsuma ( Citrus × unshiu) looks very similar. This makes it more robust than the mandarin and also somewhat more cold-tolerant.

In fact, the clementine is a cross between the mandarin ( Citrus reticulata) and the bitter orange ( Citrus x aurantium). However, it was first discovered to be a separate species in 1902 by the Algerian monk Frère Clément, to whom the clementine owes its name.

It was likely first cultivated in ancient China. The origin of the clementine, however, is less certain. Its name suggests that it was primarily a fruit of the rich, as high-ranking state officials were known as mandarins in China between the 13th and 19th centuries. Although it has only been known in Europe for about two centuries, it has been cultivated in China for thousands of years. The mandarin is one of the world’s oldest cultivated plants.
