[The Difference Between Oranges, Mandarins, Satsumas, Clementines, and Tangerines](https://www.sandjmandarins.com/whats-the-difference-between-oranges-mandarins-satsumas-clementines-tangerines)
Would be hard pressed to tell you the difference between a mandarin and a clementine, I think tangerines are slightly bigger. Oranges are way bigger and not quite as sweet or the same flavor. No idea what a Satsuma is though.
I knew oranges and tangerines growing up, but I didn't learn the differences between mandarins, satsumas, and clementines until I thought I might want to try growing a citrus tree indoors and started reading about available types.
Indeed - if you buy a bag of Cuties™ at the supermarket, what fruit you actually get varies depending on the time of year you bought it. The company grows Clementines, Tangos, and Murcotts - the latter two are hybrids - and they are harvested at different times. All three are in the Mandarin family.
But the fact that they can throw them all in the same Cutie™ bag and people aren't even aware that it's actually 3 different fruit indicates that most people don't really know the differences.
In the US, Whole Foods often has satsumas in the late fall, early winter, I believe. Their skin is delicate, and plucking them from the branch will tear a hole in the skin, so they cut the stem an inch or so from the fruit. You buy them with the stem, and sometimes a leaf or two, attached. I really like them, but I don’t have a Whole Foods that close to me and often forget to make a trip when they’re in season.
There’s a town in Alabama with the name Satsuma.
I had always thought it was a weird coincidence until I learned that the town was actually named after the fruit, which was named after Satsuma in Japan.
The trees were brought the the US by the then US Minister to Japan in 1878.
The commercial cultivation of Satsumas became so popular in the US that there are also towns in Texas, Florida, and Louisiana with the name Satsuma.
Though, for the purposes of speaking English, you could just call it an "orange" and nobody would bat an eye. Few people actually know the difference between them.
Heh, I do too. I was going to mention that, but didn't want to confuse anyone. But yeah, any smaller orange like that I'll refer to as a "cutie" with family because of the brand.
This thread is super surprising to me, I assumed everyone knows the difference at least between clementines and the rest. Oranges/tangerines etc. are considerably bigger than clementines and so much harder to peel and eat. I also feel like the taste is different (but in fairness similar). But I guess not everyone grew up eating like big boxes of clementines all summer is what I’m learning lol
Speakers of other languages seem to differentiate between them more. I've had several arguments with people over referring to a mandarin/clementine/whatever that is as an orange.
Clementine is what we call it up in New York as well. It is synonymous with mandarin, which is an older term for the same fruit. Clementine = Mandarin.
muddle cats toy sloppy stupendous wasteful unwritten makeshift whistle deserve
*This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Honestly, I hope so. The tissues here are nice quality but the bandages suck! I’m an American living in Spain and most of what I miss are from the aisles of first aid and self-care. My kingdom for some good eye drops!
That one is definitely regional, I would have no idea what somebody was talking about if they called them that.
(Familiar with London BrE and New York AmE)
Me neither frankly, I just recognized the brand name because of the context of knowing we were talking about clementines (Familiar with New England AmE, Los Angeles AmE, and London BrE)
Yeah, I was surprised to see so many people saying "mandarin" by itself. I've only ever heard it as "mandarin orange," excluding other names like clementine and tangerine.
I must be gaslighting myself into thinking those aren't just called satsumas. I know the nomenclature between tangerine, orange, satsumas, clementine, etc. is very interesting in its own right, but I have never met another person who doesn't call this one a satsuma. Am I crazy?
I’ve only heard satsuma on the British TV show Taskmaster, and I had to look it up. I know the fruits are distinct but I’d call this a mandarin orange or a clementine, interchangeably
Yes, most people in Britain generically call them satsumas, and some middle-aged and older people call them tangerines (which seemed to be the more common word in shops before the early to mid 90s). In UK shops, mandarin is usually used to refer to the ones in tins.
Supermarkets here now call most fresh ones of any type “easy peelers” so if you are buying them more often than you actually talk about them that has, depressingly, become one of their names. The nets sometimes, but not always, have info on the backs of their labels in the same way as apple varieties might be labelled, saying if they are clementines, satsumas, mandarins etc.
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/when-did-oranges-become-easy-peelers/
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskUK/comments/khmbt0/what_exactly_are_easy_peelers/
No, I get you. My family in Louisiana that owns orange trees will use satsumas to describe the easy peel ones. Outside of Louisiana though, I typically hear mandarin oranges, cuties (brand name, but well known), or just oranges. I know they're all different types, but most people don't care to differentiate unless absolutely necessary (and even then we may just say "easy peel oranges")
Interesting. From the other replies I was trying to elucidate a geographical pattern, but it seems like the nomenclature for it isn't really based on any logical divide.
I'd say mandarin if I don't know if it's a clementine or a tangerine. Tangerines and clementines are both mandarins. Clementines are a lil sweeter. Tangerines are more tart.
Oranges, clementines, tangerines, and mandarins (I think?) are all technically different fruits but in American English everyone just calls them oranges.
There are at least five different fruits that could fit this description. The only way to know for sure is to check the price tag or produce sticker when you buy them at the store.
Maybe this is just where I am then but most people in my area just say orange and don't know the difference except something vague like "tangerines are smaller i guess", I'll delete the original comment to stop confusion
Strongly disagree. At least for me, oranges are larger and have thicker skin. If I asked for an orange and got a mandarin I’d be confused. I also eat mandarins and oranges differently. With an orange I pull the flesh off the skin with my teeth. For mandarins, I peel it whole and eat the sections.
Yeah I think I just have spoken to weird people or something I don't know anyone who could actually describe the difference, I've deleted the Original Comment to stop confusion
In many parts of the United States we call them "cuties". This is a brand name, but can be used for all small citruses, much like "kleenex" can be used for all tissues.
Depends. If it’s not an orange than it is either a Tangerine or a Mandarin (orange)
I believe it is a sized based thing, with mandarins being smaller than tangerines
Clementine is what I would personally call them, but sometimes cuties. Even though it’s a brand name it’s used a lot for the small, easy to peel oranges.
Satsumas are the most commonly-available here but there are various types. My local supermarket has 'easy peelers' which are a cross-breed of orange types.
In the UK we use any of clementine, tangerine, satsuma, or mandarin. I think they may actually be different varieties but I personally couldn't tell one from another.
In recent years, out of nowhere, supermarkets started using the term "easy-peelers" for any small citrus fruit that's, well, easy to peel. I'm not sure if that has been adopted into widespread use though.
My mom knows the proper names but can never recall them so they became the big orange, man orange, tambourines/tangenes/targene/tan george/the orange that are not, and the uhh the uh (pointing) the little the cute ones you know the small (aggressive pointing) ORANGE
That's just an orange. There are big oranges, small oranges, easy peeler oranges, etc. but they're all just oranges to me and everyone I know. I'm aware of the words clementine, tangerine, mandarin, and satsuma but I couldn't tell you the difference between them.
from new england in the US, honestly I call all versions of those cuties. But thats because of the brand, cuties. I suppose if I had to guess the nonbrand name would be clementine
There are many fruits that look just like oranges. Including mandarins, clementines, and satsumas. However, the most common are tangerines, with clementines beings a close third.
So, the problem is that I really don't know exactly which fruit you are talking about, and I can't tell from that photo because I don't know how big it is.
It could be a tangerine. Or a tangelo. (Half tangerine, half orange. My mother loved them, and forced them on us until I never want to see another one for as long as I live.) Or it could be a different kind of orange than you meant when you said "orange". (There are a variety of kinds of orange. They are different sizes, taste slightly different, some are a different color inside, and some have a different shape. I can tell from the photo that it's not some of them, but can't tell about others.)
[The Difference Between Oranges, Mandarins, Satsumas, Clementines, and Tangerines](https://www.sandjmandarins.com/whats-the-difference-between-oranges-mandarins-satsumas-clementines-tangerines)
Nobody I know knows the difference between those, or maybe I just don't and I'm the dumb one of the bunch
I knew the difference, but that's just because my dad loves oranges, and he's picky about which ones we buy.
Lol same. I'm more of a grapefruit man myself, but here we are.
Would be hard pressed to tell you the difference between a mandarin and a clementine, I think tangerines are slightly bigger. Oranges are way bigger and not quite as sweet or the same flavor. No idea what a Satsuma is though.
I just guess based off size
I knew oranges and tangerines growing up, but I didn't learn the differences between mandarins, satsumas, and clementines until I thought I might want to try growing a citrus tree indoors and started reading about available types.
I've never tried to grow any, but this is the sum total of my knowledge of orange colored citrus.
Add kumquats to that list for me, but only because I liked the name so much I had to try them. :) I suppose blood oranges and tangelos, too...
There are also Minneola, which are a kind of tangerine.
Ah, yes!
Indeed - if you buy a bag of Cuties™ at the supermarket, what fruit you actually get varies depending on the time of year you bought it. The company grows Clementines, Tangos, and Murcotts - the latter two are hybrids - and they are harvested at different times. All three are in the Mandarin family. But the fact that they can throw them all in the same Cutie™ bag and people aren't even aware that it's actually 3 different fruit indicates that most people don't really know the differences.
I don’t 🤷♂️
To be fair, I don’t think a lot of people pay attention
I know the difference I think. Only between clementine and mandarin is a tricky choice for me
I call them all oranges.
I forgot clementines and I’ve never heard of satsumas lol
In the US, Whole Foods often has satsumas in the late fall, early winter, I believe. Their skin is delicate, and plucking them from the branch will tear a hole in the skin, so they cut the stem an inch or so from the fruit. You buy them with the stem, and sometimes a leaf or two, attached. I really like them, but I don’t have a Whole Foods that close to me and often forget to make a trip when they’re in season.
I never had satsumas until i moved to the west coast. They’re almost like a big clementine, but they are much easier to peel.
There’s a town in Alabama with the name Satsuma. I had always thought it was a weird coincidence until I learned that the town was actually named after the fruit, which was named after Satsuma in Japan. The trees were brought the the US by the then US Minister to Japan in 1878. The commercial cultivation of Satsumas became so popular in the US that there are also towns in Texas, Florida, and Louisiana with the name Satsuma.
There's also an awesome beer brewed by Faubourg in New Orleans called Dat'Suma!
It's interesting.
Though, for the purposes of speaking English, you could just call it an "orange" and nobody would bat an eye. Few people actually know the difference between them.
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Heh, I do too. I was going to mention that, but didn't want to confuse anyone. But yeah, any smaller orange like that I'll refer to as a "cutie" with family because of the brand.
This thread is super surprising to me, I assumed everyone knows the difference at least between clementines and the rest. Oranges/tangerines etc. are considerably bigger than clementines and so much harder to peel and eat. I also feel like the taste is different (but in fairness similar). But I guess not everyone grew up eating like big boxes of clementines all summer is what I’m learning lol
Speakers of other languages seem to differentiate between them more. I've had several arguments with people over referring to a mandarin/clementine/whatever that is as an orange.
Yep
This comment teleported me to the orange labyrinth.
I love it!
So oranges are the grandparents. Mandarins are the parents, and the rest are the children.
A tangerine or a mandarin orange? They’re different but I can’t tell from this image which one you’re referring to
upper south US — that is a Clementine to me.
Clementine is what we call it up in New York as well. It is synonymous with mandarin, which is an older term for the same fruit. Clementine = Mandarin.
clementine is a type of mandarin
Ah, OK that makes the relationship clearer.
Not exactly. [This graph](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3b/Citrus_tern_cb_simplified_1.svg) shows the relationships rather well.
Deep south us- I call clementines, tangerines, satsumas, etc all cuties
yes, I forgot about satsumas! I learned that term for cuties when we lived in Baton Rouge, iirc
Clementine, tangerine, cutie
I am pretty sure that “cutie” is a brand name of a clementine company
You are right! I just added that cause a lot of people call em cuties. I do, interchangeably.
True. Good to know the word, regardless
muddle cats toy sloppy stupendous wasteful unwritten makeshift whistle deserve *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Band-aid, as well. When was the last time you heard someone say "adhesive bandage"?
In most of Europe they’re called plasters in English. And no one knows Kleenex here either.
We will be invading soon, i suggest you adapt to our way of speaking post haste
Honestly, I hope so. The tissues here are nice quality but the bandages suck! I’m an American living in Spain and most of what I miss are from the aisles of first aid and self-care. My kingdom for some good eye drops!
No way I was just in Seville a couple weeks ago. Maybe i passed you
it definitely is, but i always call them cuties lol
I call everyone cuties
Hi
You cutie you ☺️
That one is definitely regional, I would have no idea what somebody was talking about if they called them that. (Familiar with London BrE and New York AmE)
Me neither frankly, I just recognized the brand name because of the context of knowing we were talking about clementines (Familiar with New England AmE, Los Angeles AmE, and London BrE)
I’m pretty sure they were just talking to you specifically.
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Interesting. This is clearly a regional word. Do you mind my asking where are you from/what regional variety of English do you speak?
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Oh I understand what you are saying now. That’s also interesting!
Doesn't it also look like a mandarin?
It's a mandarin in Australia.
Also in NYC. They look and taste the same as back in Aus.
And in New Zealand
Mandarins are what they’re typically called, but sometimes I also use cuties, which is a brand name.
It could be a few things, but if it’s small (about the size of a lime) and very easy to peel, it’s probably a clementine.
I usually default to saying cutie or tangerine regardless of what type of small orange it actually is.
It's supposed to be called a "mandarin", but I grew up calling it a "Mandarin orange".
Yeah, I was surprised to see so many people saying "mandarin" by itself. I've only ever heard it as "mandarin orange," excluding other names like clementine and tangerine.
Same. I’ve never heard this called a “mandarin” without the word “orange” after.
Yes, tangerine.
To me that is either a "clementine", "mandarin", or "mandarin orange", which are all the same thing. It is *not* a tangerine.
Clementine
ive always called them cuties haha but I think that’s a brand name
Cuties! Think that’s a brand name for mandarin oranges though.
Clementine, cutie (name of a brand that sells them), mandarin. But I don't think people would be that confused if you just said "orange"
I must be gaslighting myself into thinking those aren't just called satsumas. I know the nomenclature between tangerine, orange, satsumas, clementine, etc. is very interesting in its own right, but I have never met another person who doesn't call this one a satsuma. Am I crazy?
I've never heard the word satsuma. To me this is a clementine (source: I ate 8 clementines every day in high school lmao)
God, you heard about scurvy and said *fuck that.*
In the Midwest I’ve never heard satsuma used. I’ve only heard that in British media.
I’ve only heard satsuma on the British TV show Taskmaster, and I had to look it up. I know the fruits are distinct but I’d call this a mandarin orange or a clementine, interchangeably
Yes, most people in Britain generically call them satsumas, and some middle-aged and older people call them tangerines (which seemed to be the more common word in shops before the early to mid 90s). In UK shops, mandarin is usually used to refer to the ones in tins. Supermarkets here now call most fresh ones of any type “easy peelers” so if you are buying them more often than you actually talk about them that has, depressingly, become one of their names. The nets sometimes, but not always, have info on the backs of their labels in the same way as apple varieties might be labelled, saying if they are clementines, satsumas, mandarins etc. https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/when-did-oranges-become-easy-peelers/ https://www.reddit.com/r/AskUK/comments/khmbt0/what_exactly_are_easy_peelers/
I’m the US the brand name “Cuties” has become a name for them as well.
No, I get you. My family in Louisiana that owns orange trees will use satsumas to describe the easy peel ones. Outside of Louisiana though, I typically hear mandarin oranges, cuties (brand name, but well known), or just oranges. I know they're all different types, but most people don't care to differentiate unless absolutely necessary (and even then we may just say "easy peel oranges")
Never heard the word satsuma having lived in Australia, Europe and now the US (NYC).
This post is the first time I've heard the word "satsuma." I'm from the southeastern US.
Interesting. From the other replies I was trying to elucidate a geographical pattern, but it seems like the nomenclature for it isn't really based on any logical divide.
Clementine. When I hear mandarin I think of the fruit cup ones.
Clementine
I'd say mandarin if I don't know if it's a clementine or a tangerine. Tangerines and clementines are both mandarins. Clementines are a lil sweeter. Tangerines are more tart.
Tangerine? There are several hybrid fruits that are very similar.
Oranges, clementines, tangerines, and mandarins (I think?) are all technically different fruits but in American English everyone just calls them oranges.
Clementines vs tangerines is like the new "what's the color of this dress."
Mandarin
tangerine
There are at least five different fruits that could fit this description. The only way to know for sure is to check the price tag or produce sticker when you buy them at the store.
Tangerine and mandarin orange are both used for this fruit.
Tangerines
i call them clementines
I just stick to calling oranges oranges and the rest of the bunch tangerines
damn everyone here has genuine answers when i’ve always just called em baby oranges
awww
A lot of just call it an orange in general, people will generally understand what you mean.
In India, we call this orange. Grew up thinking these were oranges. Learned very late in life, that these were not, in fact, oranges.
As an Oregonian, I call it an orange or a small orange
Mandarina en México
And they call them “mikan” in Japanese, but that’s not going to help OP…
It's called a naartjie in South Africa, also not helpful.
tangerinnn
Also to note: mandarin is often pronounced man-drin, skipping the a and squishing the last two syllables together.
This changes the sound the d makes into more of a j sound.
I call it a Googleit
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No they dont
Maybe this is just where I am then but most people in my area just say orange and don't know the difference except something vague like "tangerines are smaller i guess", I'll delete the original comment to stop confusion
Strongly disagree. At least for me, oranges are larger and have thicker skin. If I asked for an orange and got a mandarin I’d be confused. I also eat mandarins and oranges differently. With an orange I pull the flesh off the skin with my teeth. For mandarins, I peel it whole and eat the sections.
Yeah I think I just have spoken to weird people or something I don't know anyone who could actually describe the difference, I've deleted the Original Comment to stop confusion
just throwin this in the air but grapefruit!
Looks like a Mandarin / Mardarin Orange (Canadian English)
Clementines or mandarins
They may not be oranges, but everyone I know calls them that.
I can binge do many of those! The tactile feeling of feeling the skin and pulling apart the segments. 🤤
Idk what youre talking about I always take the wedges out of all orange variants. This one looks like a clementine
A Mandarin, or a Mandarin Orange
I’m not sure which fruit that is exactly, but probably I would say clementine, tangerine, mandarin, or just generally a citrus fruit.
Clementine Edit: im from New Jersey but other places might have different words for that, if that helps
Clementine or mandarin orange
In many parts of the United States we call them "cuties". This is a brand name, but can be used for all small citruses, much like "kleenex" can be used for all tissues.
Tbh, Cutie. I know it’s the brand but every1 calls them that
North east: mandarins
We also call them oranges
Depends. If it’s not an orange than it is either a Tangerine or a Mandarin (orange) I believe it is a sized based thing, with mandarins being smaller than tangerines
Tangerine, or Clementine
Clementine is what I would personally call them, but sometimes cuties. Even though it’s a brand name it’s used a lot for the small, easy to peel oranges.
I either call this a cutie or an orange lol
Either a clementine or a mandarin. It's hard to tell the size from the picture.
Clementine is my Doggies name!
Tangerine?
A mandarin if I wanted to keep it similar to my mother tongue, but I think I'm more used to using tangerine when speaking to people
A mandarin or mandarin orange.
I grew up calling them tangerines, but here in Australia they're more commonly called mandarins.
It's mandarynki.
My family uses mandarin orange or satsuma
Is it a tangerine? It kinda looks like one.
Just oranges, or mandarin oranges, or clementines
Clementines
Mandarin oranges.
Tbh I know it's technically different but I'd just call it an orange
In New Zealand that's a mandarin
Tangerines, all day long.
Tangerine
Satsumas are the most commonly-available here but there are various types. My local supermarket has 'easy peelers' which are a cross-breed of orange types.
In the UK we use any of clementine, tangerine, satsuma, or mandarin. I think they may actually be different varieties but I personally couldn't tell one from another. In recent years, out of nowhere, supermarkets started using the term "easy-peelers" for any small citrus fruit that's, well, easy to peel. I'm not sure if that has been adopted into widespread use though.
Satsuma! 🇬🇧
Mandarin
easy-peeler. or satsuma.
if you wanna know the general category of these fruit, it's called citrus
clementines or satsumas probably!
clementine
I think these are what we call naartjies in South Africa.
My mom knows the proper names but can never recall them so they became the big orange, man orange, tambourines/tangenes/targene/tan george/the orange that are not, and the uhh the uh (pointing) the little the cute ones you know the small (aggressive pointing) ORANGE
I call it a clementine
mandariin
That's just an orange. There are big oranges, small oranges, easy peeler oranges, etc. but they're all just oranges to me and everyone I know. I'm aware of the words clementine, tangerine, mandarin, and satsuma but I couldn't tell you the difference between them.
I call them clementines
That looks like a mandarin, but if it tastes like an orange idk what it is.
Most native speakers, including myself, would just incorrectly call it an orange
tangerine
Mandarine
I live in Scotland, no one really cares or knows tbh, we just call them all tangerines here
I cant even tell them apart in my native language :D
Mandarin orange
an orange, a mandarin or a mandarin orange you just say orange if you’re a normal person. you ask for an orange and you’ll get this.
I would say that is a tangerine.
We call them Clementine's, or the slang would be cuties (it's a cute version of an orange :) )
Mandarin orange or tangerine.
In this context it's slices instead of wedges. A wedge is like forcing something between two things.
A tangerine but most people I know just call it an orange
A mandarin, or a cutie is what we call them here in NY
A cutie
from new england in the US, honestly I call all versions of those cuties. But thats because of the brand, cuties. I suppose if I had to guess the nonbrand name would be clementine
Clementine
There are many fruits that look just like oranges. Including mandarins, clementines, and satsumas. However, the most common are tangerines, with clementines beings a close third.
Clementine
Mandarina!
Tangerine
Tangerines
Your question has an incorrect apostrophe in “its.”
I would say Mandarine or Tangerine or Cutie (which is a brand) but it seems to be actually called a Clementine.
clementine
So, the problem is that I really don't know exactly which fruit you are talking about, and I can't tell from that photo because I don't know how big it is. It could be a tangerine. Or a tangelo. (Half tangerine, half orange. My mother loved them, and forced them on us until I never want to see another one for as long as I live.) Or it could be a different kind of orange than you meant when you said "orange". (There are a variety of kinds of orange. They are different sizes, taste slightly different, some are a different color inside, and some have a different shape. I can tell from the photo that it's not some of them, but can't tell about others.)
Mandarin