Is There A Difference Between Clementines And Mandarin Oranges?

Even though the fruits you refer to as mandarins and clementines may be similar in color, shape, and flavor, these terms actually denote two distinct things. Sure, you can probably throw some clementine segments into a fruit salad and call them mandarins, and no one would argue with you. But botanically speaking, both these fruits are separate from one another. Just like how not all rectangles are squares, not all mandarins are clementines even though all clementines are mandarins. 

Both clementines and mandarins are types of tiny oranges and are part of the genus Citrus, which also includes limes, lemons, grapefruits, and more. The umbrella term "oranges" generally refers to all citrus fruits with that distinct orange color, for lack of a better term. Within the category of oranges are mandarins, which are their own sub-category of smaller fruits. Clementines, as well as tangerines, are both within the mandarin sub-category.

Clementines are some of the smallest mandarins and are known for their mild, sweet flavor and thin, smooth skin that is easy to peel. Clementines resulted from crossing sweet oranges and mandarins, and they were bred to be small, sweet, and portable. They are often marketed to children as a healthy snack with brand names such as Cuties or Sweeties, but you can obviously enjoy clementines at any age.

Tangerines are another breed of mandarins and are thought to have been named for the port city of Tangier, Morocco. Compared to clementines, tangerines have a bit more of a sour flavor but are still smaller than oranges. They have a thin, slightly bumpy, easy-to-peel skin.

There are many more types of mandarins, including satsumas, which are delicate, sweet, and juicy. Really, you can't go wrong whether you're enjoying any of these mandarin fruits on their own, making fancy preserved oranges, or putting together a nostalgic Jell-O salad. Most surprising out of all this is that even though oranges are the broad name most people use for all these fruits, oranges are technically the newer species compared to mandarins. They came about from intentional cross-breeding between mandarins and pomelos. This is why oranges are larger, rounder, and more bitter than mandarins.