Mandarin orange is also called Mandarin or Mangarine. This orange is a small citrus tree that has fruit that resembles other oranges,it can be eaten plain or found in fruit salads. People call it tangerine because of its reddish color but it is not a botanical classification. Mandarin are small and oblate in size and are not like oranges that are spherical in size. The taste is not sour but sweet and strong. A ripe Mandarin is always firm and soft to hold,it is heavy and pebble-skinned. Their color is orange, orange yellow or orange-red. The skin is very thin and can peel off easily without stress and it is considered as an important advantage over the citrus fruits. The fruit may have no seed or the seeds are not much in it. Mandarin orange can be squeezed and use as juice and some people dry them up. It contains much sugar,Vitamin C, B1,B2,provitamin A,phytoncides,lectins and mineral salts. The juice are available in the United States and hardly will you see seeds in it.
The scientific name for it is called "Citrus reticulata" and it is a native to South East China and South Japan and was originated from South western China. There are some people that use the Mandarin peel fresh, whole or dried as Chinpi. It can also be used for cooking,baking etc. Mandarin fruit peel are used to cure many ailments in the traditional system such as abdominal distension, also used to aid digestion and reduce phlegm.
Most countries cultivate Mandarin fruits and these countries are;
- China
- Tropical Asia
- India
- Korea
- Japan
- The Mediterranean
- Florida
The orange contains 85% water ,13% carbohydrate and large amount of fat and protein. In Chinese, when observing their new year,they took Mandarin orange as a symbol of abundant and good fortune. Some used it as decoration or present as gift to friends, relatives etc.
Mandarin oranges are low in calories, they have fiber and gives enough nutrients to keep us healthy. There are some who takes Mandarin and Tangerine to be the same fruit but there is difference between them and it is their color that differentiate them.
BENEFITS OF MANGARIN
It prevent Cancer
It reduces blood pressure
It helps to fight infections in the body
The orange is a good source of Vitamin C and it decreases cholesterol problems
It protects vision and support immune system
Mandarin orange flushes out harmful toxins
They contains calcium and helps create new bones
They keep blood flow moving smoothly
The vitamin C in Mandarin orange helps to fight a number of unstable molecules in the body
It helps assist in weight loss
It prevents cold and is vital for the proper functioning of a healthy immune system
When you take Mandarin juice daily,it makes the skin glowing and also improve the skin tone to a great extent
Mandarin helps fight signs of ageing like wrinkles on the face
Mandarin oil helps in healing wounds faster
Mandarins have antioxidant properties that helps fight pollution by protecting the hair
It makes the hair looks shiny
HOW TO STORE A MANDARIN
The fruit can be stored for a week or more
When storing Mandarin, do not wash
Do not allow the fruit to be wet because they will encourage fungi to grow on it and spoil the fruit
Put inside the refrigerator for a long lasting period
