Mandarin or tangerine has the sweetest flavor than other fruits in the same family. Also, it is very easy to eat because you can peel it with no trouble. Also, it has a more attractive deep orange color. One can choose the smaller seedless type. Mandarin orange and oranges are both very nutritious and sweet. Also, both are very low in calories, so it will not add up to your weight.
However, many people think that mandarin and orange are the same. These are two different fruits that belong to the same family. Here are what makes them different and similar to one another.
1. They Come from the Same Family
Both of them are citrus fruits that come from the same family. However, they have a very similar look, but different two different varieties of fruits. Mandarin benefits and oranges to health are quite similar.
Mandarin
It is mostly grown in Florida. In the 1800s, it was named tangerine because the city where it comes from is Tangier. Hence, you can enjoy the fruit between October until January.
Oranges
This fruit originally comes from Asia. Today, it is now grown in Brazil and Florida, United States. Surprisingly, oranges come from the combination of two fruits: Mandarin and pomelo. Also, oranges have several varieties, such as:
- Round shape: This type of fruit is used for juice production.
- Navel: It is one of the most common types of orange that resemble the belly button. That is why it is named the navel.
- Blood: It is the type with deep red flesh with dark red spots on the skin. It is very rich in antioxidants than others.
- Sweet: This type of orange has the lowest level of acid. It is the one that is mostly eaten raw and is not used to produce juices.
Moreover, oranges are available all year round, but some types grow between November until March.
2. Appearance
What separates the two is the size. Each type of orange has a different size, but oranges grow larger than tangerines. Also, mandarin oranges are softer, while the orange stays firm even when they are already ripe.
When it comes to seeds, both have seeds and seedless varieties. The most obvious difference in appearance is their color. Oranges are more yellow except for blood orange. Mostly, tangerines have an orange color.
3. Flavor
Furthermore, there is only a small difference between the flavor of these two citrus fruits. Hence, both of them may have a sweet to tangy taste. However, mandarin is sweeter than oranges and has a stronger flavor. Also, it may have an after taste after eating. It is the blood orange, which has a different berry-like taste.
4. Easy to Peel
If you want the one that is very easy to peel, you can go for mandarin. Both types of fruit have thin skin. However, oranges are harder to peel as it has tighter skin. Another characteristic of mandarin is the zipper skin. Hence, it means that once the skin is peeled off, then it will slide off.
5. The Same Nutrients
Mandarin benefits and orange in terms of its nutrient is closely similar to each other. Both are rich in water and carbohydrates. However, tangerine is higher in calories because it is sweeter. If you want something that will benefit your stomach, it is good to eat oranges high in fiber. When it comes to Vitamin C mandarin orange benefits, you can go for oranges as it has 89% than mandarin with only 44%.
6. Whole Fruit vs. Juice
Obviously, the better choice to get more mandarin orange benefits is to eat the whole fruit. Unfortunately, juices and processed oranges are high in sugar and calories. Also, it has added loads of preservatives that are bad for health. There is a study that compares whole fruit and juices. The result shows no huge difference in sugar level of people who both eat whole and drink juices.
Moreover, processing the fruit may lower its antioxidants and nutrients. Therefore, it lessens the mandarin orange benefits that you can get from it. It is still better to eat fruits fresh than drinking processed fruit juices. However, juices from fresh fruits are a better option.
