I don't know about you, but I am always so happy to see the arrival of mandarin oranges in the stores. They're available most of the year, but this is the time of year when they seem to be out in full force, at their juicy best! Aren't they just the greatest thing: they're snack-size, easy to peel, healthy, and just delicious!
Make a cup of tea and join me for a few minutes: I did some homework to find out more about mandarin oranges, and I'll tell you what I learned. Mandarins belong to the family "citrus reticulata", growing in tropical and semi-tropical climates. They originally called south-east Asia and the Philippines home. China enjoyed these delights for thousands of years, but the mandarin orange did not reach North America until the 19th century. An interesting little factoid: the first oranges to be shipped out were sent from Tangiers, Morocco, which is why they got the name "tangerines". But I discovered that while tangerines are mandarin oranges, not all mandarin oranges are tangerines.
Mandarin orange trees are quite compact, and more cold resistant than we would think, able to tolerate temperatures of about 12 degrees. They are also quite drought tolerant. The trees are thorny, with lance shaped leaves. I also learned that most citrus trees are self-fertile, and some varieties like the satsuma don't ned pollination, which is why they have no seeds.
Another interesting factoid about the name "mandarin". Long ago, "mandarins" were officials in the ancient Chinese courts. They wore bright orange robes to distinguish them and their official duties. Because the oranges that we now call mandarins were reserved for the Far Eastern upper classes at that time, they became known as "mandarins".
Horticulturally, mandarin oranges made a long and arduous journey to come to Europe and North America. The first arrivals made their way to England from Canton in 1805; by 1850, they were growing in the Mediterranean; someone with vision planted them at the Italian consulate in New Orleans around 1840; the satsuma began to arrive from Japan to the US in about 1878, and between 1908 and 1911, almost one million trees arrived in the Gulf states. But today, China still remains the top producer of mandarins, and thank you to the mandarin growers there, because their hard work gives us a delectable treat to enjoy!
Chinese New Year is on February 10, 2013, and oranges and tangerines are an important symbol of good luck and prosperity during the celebrations. They are used in displays in homes, and are given as gifts.
So as you and I sit here, eating our mandarin oranges and looking out the window at the snow, who knew that they have such an interesting history? As Mom and Great-Grammie always said, you never stop learning!
The Yorkton and District Horticultural Society will be holding their Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, November 28 at St. Gerard's Parish Complex. This is a member's only meeting, and will include a delicious supper, our meeting, a silent auction, and a presentation about Mexico by our own Ed Sek. It will be a great evening; for more information, please call Liz at 782-2830.
Isn't it heartbreaking to see how parts of the US are struggling after the wrath of Hurricane Sandy; it makes you wonder how the trees and shoreline vegetation can survive a storm like that. But somehow, nature adapts. It makes us realize that cold and snow aren't so bad after all! Have a good week!
