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    Home Β» Fruit Reviews Β» Citrus Β» What are Ruby Tango Mandarins

    What are Ruby Tango Mandarins

    Published: Feb 16, 2016 Β· Modified: Apr 30, 2020 by Eric Samuelson

    Ruby Tango mandarins are the perfect combination of the flavor of a blood orange and the size of a Clementine.

    Ruby Tango Mandarins

    At the beginning of this month I was reading a New York Times article about the mandarin industry.

    It included some great photographs, including my friends from Friend's Ranches in Ojai, California (I visited their orange grove last March).

    As I was scrolling through the photos, something caught my eye. The Ruby Tango mandarin. Never heard of that one before. As I continued to read my excitement grew when I found out that his mandarin is a cross between a Clementine mandarin and a blood orange.

    Now how cool is that!

    The chance to eat a blood orange just as you would a mandarin is super a-peeling - see what I did there!

    Ruby Tango Mandarins

    Fast forward two weeks. As I am browsing my facebook newsfeed, I come across a post form Melissa's Produce talking about the Ruby Tango mandarin.

    Now I really wanted them.

    But how long would it take for me to find them? A whooping 3 days later I was peeling and eating my first specimen.

    Good thing too because my son had a blood orange my wife had brought back from California and was really wanting more. I was excited to bring them home for a taste test for him and the whole family.

    Ruby Tango Mandarins

    ? What Does It Taste Like?

    If you were to close your eyes and be given a slice of this mandarin without knowing what it is or seeing it at all, you would think you are just eating a blood orange. The flavor is spot on blood orange. Yet in comes in a smaller package and is easier to peel. T

    he skin itself in some specimens will have some red color on the outside just as you see in blood oranges. The more red on the inside, seem to indicate more color on the inside and a richer flavor. They are sweet and tart.

    I am anxious to see if they get sweeter as the season progresses as I have observed with most citrus (UPDATE - I tried them later in the season and did find them to be sweeter). Even now I am ready to call these new bad boys a winner!

    They are easy to peel enough to peel, maybe not as easy as some mandarins where you got the skills you can remove the entire peel in one piece. This was is a little more tricky to do that, yet still easier and faster than your straight up blood orange.

    ? Great on Salads

    Ruby Tango are really good on top of a salad. I served the up before on top of some spring mix with sesame sticks and poppyseed dressing. One of my favorite salads I have ever made. In fact, I should go make one right now!

    ? When in Season

    2016 marked the first time Ruby Tango was released commercially in a big way.

    Even now supplies are limited and they may not be easy to track down.

    In future years supply should increase as tree mature and hopefully they will be then easier to find.

    Their season runs from February to March.

    What are Ruby Tangos mandarins
    They are so beautiful on the inside. A rainbow of colors from orange to red to purple.

    ? Are They GMO?

    I was asked by a reader if the Ruby Tango is a GMO crop. The answer is no. Ruby Tango resulted from natural crossing breeding of a blood orange and a Clementine. It was achieved the way a lot of varieties of fruit have been made. As of now, I do not know of any genetically modified citrus available commercially.

    ? Where to Buy

    I haven't heard a lot about who is carrying them yet, but here a few stores I would recommend looking. Whole Foods seems to be backing this new variety:

    Whole Foods Market
    Gelson's Market
    Bristol Farms
    Fairway Market
    Fresh Direct

    Have you found these mandarins yet? Let me know what you think by leaving a comment in the section below.

    ? More Citrus to Try

    Sumo Citrus Mandarins

    Satsuma Mandarins

    Ojai Pixe Tangerines

    Lemonade Lemons

    « When Is Meyer Lemon Season
    Terra Adirondack Red Potato Chips »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Brett

      February 18, 2016 at 7:15 pm

      Hi Eric! Where did you find Ruby Tango mandarins in your area??

    2. Eric Samuelson

      February 26, 2016 at 8:20 am

      I found them at Whole Foods Market in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

    3. Karen Fraser

      March 22, 2016 at 12:32 pm

      I found them mid-March at CENTRAL MARKET (HEB) in Austin TX,
      very interesting, a bit sour for my tastes but I am glad I tried them.

    4. STEPHANIE FELL

      February 07, 2019 at 11:22 am

      I found them at Fresh Market in Augusta, GA. I bought 5 of the for $7 and juiced them this morning. It was AMAZING, which made me google them and I came across your website! Very interesting article!

    5. Eric Samuelson

      February 08, 2019 at 8:04 am

      Hi Stephanie, thank you so much for sharing. The first I have heard of them being out this season, so thanks for the heads up.

    6. Jason Grose-murray

      February 17, 2019 at 2:28 pm

      We just got these in a fred Meyer, I love love love the

    7. Eric Samuelson

      February 18, 2019 at 8:40 pm

      Glad to see they are out. I haven't gotten any yet this year, but you got me looking now. Thanks!

    8. Venus

      April 15, 2019 at 1:27 pm

      Got mine at Sprouts in Redlands CA and they were marked down to $.99 but still sweet and tart.

    9. Eric Samuelson

      April 16, 2019 at 5:19 am

      What a great deal!!! Never seen them that cheap. Glad you got some.

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    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!)

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