Exchanging Mandarin Oranges During Chinese New Year

Ang Bao & Oranges

During Chinese New Year, Mandarin oranges must be exchanged. Giving mandarin oranges is a custom that has its roots in Southern China and is referred to in Cantonese as "song gam.". Coincidentally, it also means "giving gold," which the luck-obsessed Chinese have traditionally used as a symbol of blessing the recipient with prosperity and good wishes.

Mandarin Oranges

The common orange has a few subvarieties, including mandarin oranges. Compared to larger oranges, mandarins typically have a sweeter flavor and less acidity. For the ideal snack to eat on the go, they are typically simple to peel and segment. Mandarin oranges are a diverse group of hybrid and variety fruits that vary in size, sweetness, and accessibility. We want to assist you in understanding the various varieties of mandarin oranges available on the market, which come in a variety of forms.

There are nearly 200 different varieties of mandarins because they can be crossed with other citrus species and thrive in a range of climates.

1. Ponkan

These mandarins are large and plump, measuring 7 to 8 cm. The fact that they combine a generous size with a juicy, succulent texture and a flavor that is sweet, vibrant, and tangy makes them possibly the most well-known Chinese New Year mandarin orange. However, they are not so concentrated that you can't eat a few at once. The skin easily comes off.

2. Lukan

They have slightly loose, wrinkly skin and are about the same size as ponkans. They are simple to peel as well. Although they generally have a milder flavor than ponkans, good ones have a bright acidity and can be quite sweet. They have a fragrant zest, similar to ponkans, but it can also be too soft and bitter to be used in cooking.

3. Dekopan

The name of this pear-shaped Japanese mandarin orange is a combination of the words "deko" (bump in Japanese) and "pon," which comes from the word "ponkan." This is due to the fruit's distinctive bump on top. The fruit was created in the 1970s by the Japanese government as a cross between ponkan and kiyomi, an orange-tangerine hybrid.

4. Tangerine

The fruit, which was described as a variety of mandarin, originated in Tangier, Morocco, and was given that name first. Compared to oranges, tangerines are less rounded and smaller. Though sweeter, stronger, and less sour than an orange, the flavor is still regarded as being superior. In addition to being orange in color, a ripe tangerine has pebbly skin that is firm to slightly soft and lacks deep grooves. The mesocarp, a tiny bitter white mesocarp, is thin and bitter. Mandarins in general have all of these characteristics.

5. Kinno

These are from Pakistan. They have a slightly squat shape, smooth, shiny, and clingy skin, and numerous seeds. They have a strong sharp-sweet flavor and a full flavor when they are fully ripe. Eating more than one at a time might be excessive. For cooking, baking, and the creation of drinks and cocktails, they have plenty of juice and flavorful zest.

6. Swatow

This orange is named after the city where it was originally produced, Shantou in Guangdong, China. The skin of the Swatow is more distinctive because it is thicker, more wrinkly, and harder to peel. Due to their two-week shelf life, these oranges are ideal for holiday decorations.