Mandarin vs. Tangerine — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 18, 2023
Mandarins are a class of small, sweet, and easily peeled citrus fruits. Tangerines are a subtype of mandarins, typically distinguished by their deeper color and stronger flavor.
Difference Between Mandarin and Tangerine
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Mandarins are citrus fruits that are generally small, sweet, and easy to peel. They serve as one of the original citrus species and are the genetic basis for many other types of citrus fruits, such as tangerines. Tangerines, on the other hand, are actually a subtype of mandarins, bred for certain characteristics like deeper color and stronger flavor.
In terms of taste, mandarins are usually sweeter and less tart than their tangerine counterparts. The sweetness of a mandarin makes it more versatile for a variety of culinary uses. Tangerines, however, have a bolder, sometimes tart flavor that sets them apart from the generally sweeter mandarins.
From a botanical standpoint, mandarins are the original species, Citrus reticulata, from which tangerines and other similar fruits have been cultivated. Tangerines are often considered a cultivar or a variety of mandarins. This means that all tangerines are mandarins, but not all mandarins are tangerines.
When it comes to physical appearance, mandarins are usually lighter in color and have a flatter shape. Tangerines are often deeper in color, usually a more vibrant orange, and may have a slightly rounded shape. Both fruits are rich in vitamin C and offer similar health benefits, although their nutrient profiles may vary slightly.
Comparison Chart
Definition
A class of small, sweet citrus
A subtype of mandarins
ADVERTISEMENT
Taste
Sweeter, less tart
Bolder, sometimes tart
Botanical Origin
Original species (Citrus reticulata)
Cultivar or variety of mandarins
Color
Lighter orange
Deeper, more vibrant orange
Shape
Generally flatter
Slightly rounded
Compare with Definitions
Mandarin
A fruit rich in vitamin C and nutrients.
Mandarins are good for boosting the immune system.
Tangerine
Known for its bold, sometimes tart flavor.
Tangerines have a more tart flavor compared to mandarins.
Mandarin
A small, sweet, easily peeled citrus fruit.
I ate a mandarin for a snack.
Tangerine
A citrus fruit with a vibrant orange color.
The tangerine's deep orange color caught my eye.
Mandarin
Any of a group of related dialects of Chinese spoken principally in the north and west of China.
Tangerine
A cultivar of the mandarin species.
Tangerines are a variety of mandarin.
Mandarin
The official national standard spoken language of China, based on the Mandarin dialect spoken in and around Beijing. Also called Guoyu, Putonghua.
Tangerine
Slightly rounder and bolder in flavor than a mandarin.
Tangerines are rounder and have a more robust flavor than mandarins.
Mandarin
A member of any of the nine ranks of high public officials in the Chinese Empire.
Tangerine
A subtype of mandarin with deeper color and stronger flavor.
I prefer tangerines over mandarins because of the strong flavor.
Mandarin
A high government official or bureaucrat.
Tangerine
The tangerine is a type of orange. Its scientific name varies.
Mandarin
A member of an elite group, especially a person having influence or high status in intellectual or cultural circles.
Tangerine
A widely cultivated variety of mandarin orange having deep red-orange fruit with easily separated segments.
Mandarin
A mandarin orange.
Tangerine
A strong reddish orange to strong or vivid orange.
Mandarin
Of, relating to, or resembling a mandarin.
Tangerine
Any of several varieties of mandarin oranges.
Mandarin
Marked by elaborate and refined language or literary style.
Tangerine
A deep yellowish-orange colour, like that of a tangerine fruit.
Mandarin
(historical) A high government bureaucrat of the Chinese Empire.
Tangerine
A tree that produces tangerines.
Mandarin orange
Mandarin
A pedantic or elitist bureaucrat.
Tangerine
Of a deep yellowish-orange colour.
Mandarin
A pedantic senior person of influence in academia or literary circles.
Tangerine
A kind of orange, much like the mandarin, but of deeper color and higher flavor. It is said to have been produced in America from the mandarin.
Mandarin
(ornithology) mandarin duck
Tangerine
A variety of mandarin orange
Mandarin
A senior civil servant.
Tangerine
Any of various deep orange mandarins grown in the United States and southern Africa
Mandarin
Ellipsis of mandarin orange:
Tangerine
A reddish to vivid orange color
Mandarin
A small, sweet citrus fruit.
Tangerine
Of a strong reddish orange color
Mandarin
A tree of the species Citrus reticulata.
Mandarin
(color) An orange colour.
Mandarin
Pertaining to or reminiscent of mandarins; deliberately superior or complex; esoteric, highbrow, obscurantist.
Mandarin
A Chinese public officer or nobleman; a civil or military official in China and Annam.
Mandarin
A powerful government official or bureaucrat, especially one who is pedantic and has a strong sense of his own importance and privelege.
Mandarin
A member of an influential, powerful or elite group, espcially within artistic or intellectual circles; - used especially of elder members who are traditionalist or conservative about their specialties.
Mandarin
The form of the Chinese language spoken by members of the Chinese Imperial Court an officials of the empire.
Mandarin
Any of several closely related dialects of the Chinese language spoken by a mojority of the population of China, the standard variety of which is spoken in the region around Beijing.
Mandarin
A small flattish reddish-orange loose-skinned orange, with an easily separable rind. It is thought to be of Chinese origin, and is counted a distinct species (Citrus reticulata formerly Citrus nobilis); called also mandarin orange and tangerine.
Mandarin
Shrub or small tree having flattened globose fruit with very sweet aromatic pulp and thin yellow-orange to flame-orange rind that is loose and easily removed; native to southeastern Asia
Mandarin
A member of an elite intellectual or cultural group
Mandarin
Any high government official or bureaucrat
Mandarin
A high public official of imperial China
Mandarin
A somewhat flat reddish-orange loose-skinned citrus of China
Mandarin
The dialect of Chinese spoken in Beijing and adopted as the official language for all of China
Mandarin
An original citrus species, Citrus reticulata.
The mandarin is one of the original citrus species.
Mandarin
A fruit known for its sweet taste and versatility.
Mandarins are often used in desserts.
Mandarin
A base fruit for breeding other citrus types.
Many other citrus fruits are derived from the mandarin.
Common Curiosities
What is a Mandarin?
A Mandarin is a small, sweet citrus fruit that's easy to peel.
What is a Tangerine?
A Tangerine is a subtype of mandarin, known for its deeper color and stronger flavor.
Are all Tangerines Mandarins?
Yes, all tangerines are a variety or cultivar of mandarins.
Are all Mandarins Tangerines?
No, not all mandarins are tangerines.
Which is sweeter, Mandarin or Tangerine?
Mandarins are generally sweeter than tangerines.
What is the botanical origin of Mandarin?
Mandarins are the original species, known as Citrus reticulata.
Is Tangerine a botanical species?
No, tangerines are a cultivar or variety of mandarins.
What nutrients do Tangerines have?
Tangerines offer similar nutrients to mandarins, including vitamin C.
Can Mandarins and Tangerines be used interchangeably?
Generally yes, but flavor profiles may vary.
Which has a deeper color, Mandarin or Tangerine?
Tangerines have a deeper, more vibrant orange color.
Can you substitute a Tangerine for a Mandarin in recipes?
Yes, but note that tangerines have a stronger, sometimes tart flavor.
What nutrients do Mandarins have?
Mandarins are rich in vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants.
Are there any differences in shape between Mandarin and Tangerine?
Mandarins are flatter, while tangerines are more rounded.
Which is easier to peel, a Mandarin or a Tangerine?
Both are easy to peel, but mandarins are often slightly easier due to their looser skin.
How should I choose between a Mandarin and a Tangerine?
Choose mandarins for sweetness and versatility, and tangerines for a bolder flavor.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Ductility vs. Malleability
Next Comparison
Quotation vs. TenderAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
