Clementine
A sweet, easy-to-peel citrus hybrid from Algeria.
Last updated
DrCruse · CC BY-SA 3.0
The clementine is a citrus fruit hybrid between a willowleaf mandarin orange and a sweet orange, named after the French missionary Clément Rodier who discovered it in Algeria.[1] The fruit's peel is a smooth, shiny, and deep orange color, and it divides into 7 to 14 sections.[1][2] Clementines are simple to peel, much like tangerines, and they generally taste sweet and juicy while containing less acid than oranges.[2]
Key facts and history
The clementine arose as a spontaneous hybrid in the late 19th century in Misserghin, Algeria, in the garden of an orphanage run by Brother Clément Rodier.[3] It was formally named in 1902, and genomic analysis confirms it resulted from a cross between a sweet orange and the Mediterranean willowleaf mandarin.[3] Some sources have attributed an earlier origin to similar fruit in China, but these are likely distinct mandarin hybrids.[3] Clementines have lower heat requirements than other citrus, making them more tolerant to unfavorable conditions during flowering and fruit-setting.[4]
A 2017 study indicated clementine phytochemicals may interact with drugs similarly to grapefruit, but a 2019 follow-up called these results into question.[5] In locations experiencing significant cumulative heat, the clementine tree produces its fruit earlier in the season.[4] Commercial cultivation of the clementine in California started in 1914, although it had been grown at the Citrus Research Center since 1909.[4] During 2006, certain growers, including Paramount Citrus, warned they would take legal action against local beekeepers to stop bees from reaching their fields and causing seeds to develop.[6]
What the cited sources add
The same article explains that the clementine's parentage includes a sweet orange and a willowleaf mandarin, and it was first named in 1902 in Algeria.[7] That report also notes that a lawyer for Paramount Citrus sent letters threatening to sue if bees were allowed within two miles of crops.[8] The Fruits info.com account states that the clementine resulted from an accidental hybridization and was named "Clementine" in both English and French.[9] It describes clementines as seedless, sterile fruits that are petite.[9]
The article from smithsonianmag.com notes that the clementine quickly became commercially grown in California by 1914 due to its seedless, sweet, and loose-skinned nature.[7] The 2006 report from KATU.com states that major growers like Paramount Citrus invested heavily in clementine trees to meet consumer demand for seedless, easy-to-peel fruit.[8]
References
- Wikipedia, "Clementine" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Shimizu, "Hybrid Origins of Citrus Varieties Inferred from DNA Marker Analysis of Nuclear and Organelle Genomes", PLOS ONE, 2016; Wu, "Sequencing of diverse mandarin, pummelo and orange genomes reveals complex history of admixture during citrus domestication", Nature Biotechnology, 2014, p. 656–662; Barkley, "Assessing genetic diversity and population structure in a citrus germplasm collection utilizing simple sequence repeat markers (SSRs)", Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 2006, p. 1519–1531; "Edible: An Illustrated Guide to the World's F en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Clementine" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Edible: An Illustrated Guide to the World's Food Plants", National Geographic, 2008, p. 73; Ziegler, "Flavourings: production, composition, applications, regulations", Wiley, John & Sons, Incorporated, 2007, p. 203 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Clementine" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Trabut, "L'hybridation des Citrus: une nouvelle tangérine "la Clémentine"", Revue Horticole, 1902, p. 232–234; Bretó, "The Diversification of Citrus clementina Hort. ex Tan., a Vegetatively Propagated Crop Species", Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 2001, p. 285–293; Laszlo, "Citrus: a history", University of Chicago Press, 2007, p. 23–24; Saunt, "Citrus Varieties of the World", Sinclair International Business Resources, January 1, 2000, p. 54; Nosowitz, "Your Guide to Everyone's Favorite Winter Citrus: Clementines", smithsonianmag.com, en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Clementine" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Hodgson, "The Citrus Industry", University of California, Riverside, Division of Agricultural Sciences, 1967 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Clementine" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Theile, "Clementine juice has the potential for drug interactions – In vitro comparison with grapefruit and mandarin juice", European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 15 January 2017, p. 247–256; Hohmann, "A follow-up report on potential drug interactions with clementines: Two single case experiments show no effect on CYP3A-dependent midazolam clearance", European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2019-05-15, p (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Clementine" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Calif. Beekeepers Fear No-Fly Zones", KATU.com, December 2, 2006 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Nosowitz, "Your Guide to Everyone's Favorite Winter Citrus: Clementines", smithsonianmag.com, 23 February 2016. facts only, no text reused. smithsonianmag.com
- "Calif. Beekeepers Fear No-Fly Zones", KATU.com, December 2, 2006. facts only, no text reused. katu.com
- "Clementines", Fruits info.com. facts only, no text reused. fruitsinfo.com
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Clementine (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
More in Peppers & Citrus Fruits
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Clementine (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced