Clementine

There are two theories about the origin of this fruit. Some claim that the Clementine originated in Oran, Algeria, and that it was as a result of accidental cross between the common Mediterranean mandarin with pollen from an ornamental sour orange known as Granito but most believe its origins lie in the Chinese provinces of Gwangxi and Guangdong, as it is extremely similar to the Canton mandarin that has its origins here.

The Clementine is almost completely seedless. It is easy to peel and segment. Skin colour is bright orange. Clementines have become the most popular and widely cultivated mandarin in the Mediterranean growing regions.

Satsumas

Satsuma's originated in Japan in the mid 16th century, or possibly even earlier and in Japan they are also known as Unshiu mikan. Satsumas are easy peelers that are totally seedless and have a good eating quality. The skin colour tends to be green in the early season requiring degreening.

Until the early 1980's Satsuma's were grown principally in Japan and Spain. However, this position has changed considerably, and South Africa now also produces a considerable volume of Satsumas. Of all mandarins, none has more exceptional cold-hardiness than the Satsuma.

Novas

Nova originated in Florida in 1942 from as a hybrid from a crossing between a Fina clementine and an Orlando tangelo. It was officially released in 1964. The fruit is medium to large in size. The fruit is medium to large in size, the rind is a reddish-orange and the flesh deep orange in colour.

The segments are juicy, tender and sweet. In South Africa it is harvested from end April to the end of May/beginning July. It has been planted on a modest scale recently in Cape Province.

Minneolas

Minneolas originated in Florida in 1931, from a cross that was developed by the US Department of Agriculture. The fruit has a deep orange colour and is a hybrid of a grapefruit and a tangerine.

Minneolas have found a niche in the variety composition of many of the world's leading citrus-producing industries. It is harvested mid May to end June (hot areas) and mid June to end July (cool, inland areas).

The shape is round, with most fruits having a pronounced and distinctive neck, which leads to its immediate recognition by consumers. The rind has not only exceptional color, being reddish-orange, but also has a particularly fine, smooth texture. The tree and fruit are particularly susceptible to alternaria brown spot (Altinaria citri), which has caused plantings to decline in South Africa's affected areas

Tambors

The tambor (or Ortanique) originated from a natural hybrid found in Jamaica, and was first propagated in 1920. The fruit is medium size, and slightly flattened at the stylar-end where a small navel is often formed.

The flesh is extremely juicy and has a high sugar content, and the general appearance of the fruit is greatly affected by the area in which the fruit is produced. Until the early 1970's production was very limited and restricted to Jamaica, but tambors have shown good adaptability to less tropical climates, and are now grown in Honduras, Cyprus, Israel, Swaziland and South Africa.

Ellendales

Ellendales were discovered as a chance seedling near Bundaberg in Queensland, Australia as early as 1878, and although they appear to be an orange–mandarin hybrid their true origins are unknown.

The fruit is medium to large, sometimes very large, usually flattened in shape and is regarded as being a midseason maturing variety in Queensland. Although the colour tends to develop slowly, the rind eventually develops a good deep orange colour.

Rind texture is smooth on all except extra-large fruit and, although thin, sometimes extremely thin, is easily removed without releasing much rind oil. It does not develop puffiness when left to hang on the tree.