Dekopon mandarin

Dekopon mandarin

　　The Dekopon mandarin was developed in 1972 by the Horticultural Research Station of Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries through a cross between the Kiyomi and the #3 Nakanoshima satsuma. Known for its excellent flavor and outstanding quality, it has been one of Japan’s most expensive citrus varieties in recent years. Dengling County introduced the Dekopon mandarin in the spring of 2005. After grafting using the high-grafting technique, the trees began bearing fruit in 2006. In Jintang County, the Dekopon mandarin produces large fruit, with an average weight of 200 grams and a maximum of over 400 grams. The fruit is oblate in shape, often featuring a short protruding neck. The peel is yellow-orange, beginning to color in early October and fully colored by early December. The slightly rough-skinned peel is easy to peel, and the juice has a sugar content of over 13%, reaching up to 17%, resulting in an extremely sweet taste. The fruit matures from February to March of the following year, offering outstanding flavor during that period.