Chaozhou Tangerine

Chaozhou Tangerine

Chaozhou Tangerine is a geographical indication certification trademark.

　　Chaozhou Tangerine is the world’s most renowned and premium variety of citrus. It blooms with white flowers in late spring to early summer, bears fruit in autumn, and is harvested in winter. There are three main varieties: Pengtong Tangerine, Banana Tangerine, and Snow Tangerine. The Pengtong Tangerine is especially large, bright orange-yellow in color, with a crisp, slightly bumpy peel that does not cling tightly to the segments, making it the easiest to peel. Its segments are plump, juicy, and have few seeds, with a honey-like sweetness, earning it the reputation of a “Honey Tangerine.” The Banana Tangerine is somewhat smaller, with a thicker and tougher peel that clings more closely to the segments. This variety is slightly inferior to the Pengtong Tangerine, but it is commonly used to make candied tangerine slices. The Snow Tangerine is somewhat similar to the Xinhui Orange—juicy, yet slightly more acidic, making it ideal for slicing and sucking out the juice. Chaozhou Tangerines have a long cultivation history. In the early Tang Dynasty, Ding Ru, an official of Zhangzhou, wrote a poem that included the line, “Honey is drawn from nectar between blossoms, tangerines are treasures hidden on the tree,” referring to the Chaozhou Tangerine. With over 1,300 years of history, Ming Dynasty texts describe it as “the finest fruit of Chaozhou, sweet and fragrant, with thick flesh and tiny seeds…” Today, Chaozhou Tangerines are well known not only throughout Southeast Asia but even as far as the United States and Europe. Their canned products are also sold worldwide. (Chaozhou)