One of my favorite things about winter is all the great citrus that is available. This week I was able to get my hands on a bag of Satsuma Mandarins. As the Asian name would seem to suggest these oranges orginated in Japan. Like other mandarins they are smaller than a typical orange. They look very much like the popular Clemtines that you can also find at this time of year. The ones I purchased still had the leaves attached.
My Experience with this Orange (Rating Scale 1-10)
Seeded or Seedless: Seedless
Sweetness: 7
Acidity : 7
Orange Flavor: 7
Juiciness: 8
Overall Feeling: Forget the Clementines, I would rather have a Satsuma. They are just as easy to peel and are sweet with enough acidity. What makes them better in my mind is they have a more complex flavor. They have a hint of lemon in their flavor.
4 pings
Eat Like No One Else − Citrus Available in December (2010) says:
December 1, 2010 at 8:46 am (UTC -6)
[...] Satsumas are another mandarin that can be found now. I purchased some at Whole Foods the other day. They [...]
Eat Like No One Else − Golden Nugget Mandarin says:
March 1, 2011 at 2:29 pm (UTC -6)
[...] The Golden Nugget arrives at it’s peak at the perfect time: right after Clementines & Satsumas are about done but before the Pixie Tangerines burst onto the scene for the [...]
When Does Orange (and Mandarin) Season Begin (and End)? » Eat Like No One Else says:
November 11, 2011 at 2:57 pm (UTC -6)
[...] can find different varieties from late fall to early spring. It starts with the Clementines and the Satsumas, then into the New Year you have varieties like Gold Nugget and Page, towards the end of winter [...]
California Orange/Citrus Crop Report 2011-2012 » Eat Like No One Else says:
December 27, 2011 at 9:40 pm (UTC -6)
[...] In November, they began harvesting Owari Satsuma mandarins, Budda’s Hand citron, Etrog citron, variegated pink lemons, and some Meyer [...]