• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Eat Like No One Else logo

  • 🏠 Home
  • ℹ️ About
    • How to Eat Like No One Else
  • πŸŽ„ Christmas
    • Christmas Breakfast
    • Christmas Cookies
    • Christmas Food Guides
    • Shopping for Christmas Dinner
  • 🎁 Shop for Gifts
  • 🍽️ Recipes
  • ✍️ Sign Up for Virtual Events
  • 🚫 Reduce Food Waste
  • πŸ”¨ Work With Us
  • πŸ“ Privacy Policy
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
menu icon
go to homepage
  • ℹ️ About Us
  • 🍽️ Recipes
  • πŸŽ™οΈ Podcast
  • 🚫 Reduce Food Waste
  • πŸ›’ Best Grocery Stores
  • 🍎 Apples Reviews
  • πŸ”¨ Work With Us
  • πŸ“ Privacy Policy
    • Instagram
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • ℹ️ About Us
    • 🍽️ Recipes
    • πŸŽ™οΈ Podcast
    • 🚫 Reduce Food Waste
    • πŸ›’ Best Grocery Stores
    • 🍎 Apples Reviews
    • πŸ”¨ Work With Us
    • πŸ“ Privacy Policy
    • Instagram
  • Γ—

    Home Β» Fruit Reviews Β» Citrus Β» Kishu Mandarins

    Kishu Mandarins

    Published: Jan 24, 2012 Β· Modified: Jan 5, 2021 by Eric Samuelson

    The Kishu mandarin proofs that good things can come in small packages. A delicious, easy to peel seedless mandarin that will equally wow you with it's flavor and it's adorableness. Also marketed as Kishu tangerines, Kishu kisses, and Lil' Ninja mandarins.

    A display of Kishu mandarins loose and in bags at a farmer's market.

    Isn't it so cute!!!!!

    Just look at those little, tiny mandarins. They are adorable.

    They are called Kishu mandarins. One of my favorite varieties from California. Smallest mandarins I ever encountered, even smaller than an average Pixie. Their size is about the same size as a golf ball or walnut.

    I first encountered them at a couple specialty stores here in Michigan. The $9.99/lb pound price tag, limited the amount of these little gems I was going to buy.

    Then in 2018, I was in California for Christmas and was able to hit up a local farmer's market and find them for $3/lb. So I got to indulge in these little gems and indulge we did. They were the highlight of the trip in terms of food. My wife loved them as well.

    Kishu mandarins in a tree, ready to be picked.

    ❓ What is a Kishu Mandarin?

    The Kishu belongs to a family of small mandarins that have their origins in China.

    The Kishu are in season in the U.S. from December through February.

    Look for them at farmer's market in California or in specialty grocery stores like Whole Foods Market or the Fresh Market.

    There is an excellent article in the LA Times if you want to learn more about them.

    They may also be marketed as tangerines. The industry has really blurred the definition of what is a mandarin and what is a tangerine. Ripe to You, the brand name for a Central California grower, sells them as Lil' Ninja mandarins. I have also heard them marketed at a Wegman's store as Kishu Kisses.

    A basket of Kishu mandarins at the grocery store.
    No the clearest picture, but these is from the first time I ever saw Kishu mandarins back in 2012.

    What Does It Taste Like

    Here are are my ratings (scale of 1-10) for the Kishu mandarin.

    Seeded or SeedlessSeedless
    Sweetness8
    Acidity7
    Flavor9
    Juiciness7

    It's a nice mandarin. It's equally balance between sweet and acidic. The flavor is a step up from the popular Clementine mandarin. They are in season at the same time as the Satsuma mandarin, which I think Kishu are sweeter than. My wife certainly picks Kishu over Satsuma!

    It is extremely easy to peel as there is a pocket of air between the skin and the segments inside. I would say they are one of the easiest varieties to peel.

    The segments are really small. You probably could pop the entire thing in your mouth at one time.

    They make an excellent choice for kid's lunches. You know they would be great on a salad.

    Too small for juicing for sure and harvesting the zest would be a challenge. Kishu are best left to just enjoy as is.

    A Satsuma mandarin growing in a tree.
    Satsuma mandarins in a tree that are ready to be picked. They are in season the same time as Kishu.

    More Mandarins You Need to Try

    • Sumo Citrus
    • Satsuma Mandarins
    • Ruby Tango
    • Pixies
    • Gold Nugget

    Or you can check out all of our citrus reviews.

    βœ‹ Have you had Kishu mandarins before? Make sure to leave a comment below and share your thoughts.

    « What to Do with Flank Steak?
    Sprecher Ginger Ale »

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Nice to Meet You,

    Hi! I'm Eric : Father of 4, living just south of Ann Arbor, MI. I'm a reformed picky eater finding a new way to not conform. Eating what's in season is my jam (I also make it!)

    ☘️ Instant Pot Corned Beef Recipe

    Categories

    Top Posts & Pages

    What's a Denver Steak?
    What's a Newport Steak?
    Episode 078 - Best Fruit to Buy in February
    Episode 077 - How to Fix Overly Salted Popcorn

    Recent Posts

    • What's a Denver Steak?
    • What's a Newport Steak?
    • Episode 078 - Best Fruit to Buy in February
    • Episode 077 - How to Fix Overly Salted Popcorn
    • Hunnyz Apples

    Reduce Food Waste in Your House

    Copyright © 2023 Eat Like No One Else on the Foodie Pro Theme