Oh My Darling Clementine! The Christmas Orange and its Spanish and Mandarin Origins

By Michelle Naranjo (daisyavenue) December 24, 2007

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Christmas mornings, while growing up in the New Mexico desert, usually ended with that one last gift stuck all the way in the toe of the stocking. With our arms stuck all the way inside, we could reach the presents that Santa never failed to forget: the Christmas orange. They were usually big, firm and pebbled and were dry and tasteless, brought months before to the grocery store, and were almost never eaten as there were other delights to distract us. Years later, in 1991 to be precise, I had moved to North Wales and that Christmas, Santa brought me a new Christmas orange that changed my taste buds forever. It was a Clementine and they were truly a delicacy.

The Clementine (Citrus reticulata x Citrus auratium) is a very small fruit from the Rutaceae family of the Mandarin variety that was named the Clementine in 1902. Believed by most to be an accidental hybrid of a Chinese Mandarin, also known commonly as a tangerine (Citrus reticulata), and a Seville orange (Citrus auratium), Father Clement Rodier, a missionary priest in Algeria, is said to have discovered them. Some track the origin centuries before to the Chinese variety called the Canton Mandarin and in any case is of mixed heritage.

Although they were brought to the United States to be grown at the Citrus Research Center at the University of California around 1909, Clementines were not made popular in the United States until after the 1997 Florida winter that destroyed the citrus crops. Prior to that they were mainly appreciated in Europe and imported from Spain and Morocco. Spain still remains the largest grower of Clementines in the world although they are grown in both California and Florida. They are easily hybridized by bees and in 2006 one of the larger California growers threatened to sue beekeepers for allowing their bees to trespass into Clementine crop areas.

The fruit is very small compared to other varieties but like them, should be judged by its hand weight. They are virtually seedless and the peel comes easily off the sweet interior. Their flavor is much sweeter than a regular tangerine. Prone to blue and green molds, they are best stored in a cool, dry location and will only be at their peak for 2-4 weeks. They are exported October through March but are best during December and January when they reach their peak sweetness.

Because so much of the Clementines often has to be shipped from afar and their peak is so short lived, they are usually transported in cool storage and arrive in little boxes that always make me feel as if I am buying myself a gift-wrapped present. To prepare them for shipment there is a washing process and the natural waxes are usually removed and so they are sprayed with a light wax to try to maintain their natural aromatic oils and protect their delicate skin from absorbing other odors.

Is there a connection between the sweet Clementine fruit and the lost daughter of the American sad song Oh My Darling, Clementine? On the surface, no, because the song was made popular about 30 years before Father Rodier named the fruit on another continent. But looking a little more deeply, the song is actually based on the melody of an Old Spanish ballad like the fruit's heritage in the Spanish Seville orange.

There are many recipes for Clementine cakes and puddings but I like them in their original state best. For a wonderful holiday salad, try fresh spinach with sections of Clementine, sliced red onion, walnuts and warmed goat cheese with a light vinaigrette dressing. It is delicious and only second best to the fragrance of fresh pine tree and sweet Clementine.

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About Michelle Naranjo   I am at best a sporadic gardener and began pulling weeds as a kid in Roswell, NM. My daughter and I now live in a historic home in urban downtown Long Beach, CA where I drag fun and interesting plants and garden accents. I have a never ending battle with nutgrass and try to keep our little farm in the city sustainable and organic.

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Subject: Festive, fun. and timely story!

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Posted by tabasco (from Cincinnati (Anderson, OH) on December 24, 2007 at 7:19 PM:

Hi, Michelle!

So fun to read your story about 'clementines'! We always have them in the fruit bowl over the Christmas holidays, too!

And we were first introduced to them when we lived in London way back in the early seventies--we bought them from the fruit mongers in the street market and they were so delicious! At that time, I think they were brought in from Israel or Algeria and sometimes were sold along with 'satsumas', another delicious tangerine type fruit. For so many years clementines were hard to find here in the States but my husband would insist that I find a source and we often had to mail order them from afar.

(This link talks about satsumas a bit [HYPERLINK@www.wholefoodsmarket.com] )

I'm using them peeled and seeded in a Sherry Trifle we're serving for our Boxing Day buffet! (I'll try to post a picture!)

What a treat to read your article and thanks for all the research--we often wondered why they weren't readily available in the States in past years...

Merry Christmas!

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Posted by KyWoods (from Melbourne, KY) on December 25, 2007 at 7:33 PM:

OK, now I'm convinced to try these! I've seen them at the local Kroger grocery store, but didn't pick up any, because they were expensive and small...but they sound as tasty as candy, only good for you. And that's gotta be worth it. Thanks for the info!

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Posted by daisyavenue (from Long Beach, CA) on December 26, 2007 at 3:38 PM:

Oh...Satsumas are SO good and a bit more difficult to find here.

Happy Holidays!

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Posted by gessiegail (from Taft, TX) on December 24, 2007 at 1:30 AM:

There is just nothing better than a good orange or tangerine. You sound like maybe you know a place from which to order these? I haven't seen them in the better grocery stores yet. (we don't have really good produce at the grocery store)
I have better luck along the county roads stopping where the men in pickups have been down to the valley of Texas loading their trucks to come back and sell produce.
gail

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Posted by doccat5 (from Fredericksburg, VA) on December 24, 2007 at 4:30 AM:

Thank you for the wonderful article. We just picked up another box of these lovelies today. They are so yummy. I didn't realize they could be prepared in so many ways. After I read this, I googled and I've discovered new recipes I want to try. Darn, means I'll just have to buy another box............LOL

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Posted by carrielamont (from Milton, MA) on December 24, 2007 at 10:33 AM:

i love clementines. Did I say that loudly enough? I LOVE CLEMENTINES! When I was growing up, we also had Christmas oranges, hard to peel, no fun to eat when there was so much CANDY available! Tangerines have a great flavor but way too many seeds for me. As a young adult I discovered clementines, which I introduced to my family, and we all that they were a new hybrid. what a surprise to learn they've been around for so long!

xxx, Carrie

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Posted by Dea (from Frederick, MD) on December 24, 2007 at 12:29 PM:

Your article is beautiful as well as the photos - I can almost smell them !

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Posted by Hyblaean (from Niles, IL) on December 24, 2007 at 1:53 PM:

Great article!! I love these little guys.

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Posted by roadrunner (from Hereford, AZ) on December 24, 2007 at 5:13 PM:

Oh my Darlings, Clemintines!! I have bought 2 boxes so far this month. Safeway had them on sale for $3.99 a box...and Frys for $4.99 a box. I went into Safeway one day and asked the Produce Manager if he had Clemintines...Yes...but at $8.00 per box...I told him I would wait for the sale...he said he'd put them on sale that week end...so back I went!!



I really enjoyed reading your article, Daiseyavenue...but I l Love your chocolate pies too!! LOL Merry Christmas...Jo

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Posted by Islandshari (from Kwajalein
(Marshall Islands)) on December 24, 2007 at 5:20 PM:

Hip hip hooray for those darlin Clementines! We all love them, and enjoyed your article!

Thanks, and Merry Christmas!!

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Posted by gessiegail (from Taft, TX) on December 24, 2007 at 6:12 PM:

Now if I can just find them. We have only one grocery store chain for all of south Texas up to San Antonio and down to the valley. It is locally owned in Corpus Christi and doesn't tolerate any competition.

I will find them in one of the cities. So glad you brought this to our attention!

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Posted by KaperC (from No. San Diego Co., CA) on December 25, 2007 at 1:52 AM:

Great article, Michelle. My mother always put an orange in our stockings, too. As a child, it was a tradition she treasured - though I doubt she had Clementines in Philadelphia all those years ago (she's 93).

Oh, yes, Jo - those chocolate pies! :-)

Kathleen

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Posted by carrielamont (from Milton, MA) on December 25, 2007 at 6:19 PM:

My silly husband doesn't like clementines, so I am forced to eat his, too. I make do somehow.
x, C

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Posted by Islandshari (from Kwajalein
(Marshall Islands)) on December 25, 2007 at 7:24 PM:

Ahhh Carrie, the sacrifices we make in the name of wedded bliss. So good of you to spare him...☺

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Posted by Ponditis (from Payette, ID) on December 26, 2007 at 3:45 AM:

I LOVE Clementines and can't wait to get some from a special friend/pseudodaughter/pseudobabysister who has a tree that is very loaded with them who lives in Long Beach. She threatened me with them and I have so far resisted them in the store since their price this year is terrible here. Hint Hint and you know who I mean. LOL

My parents too would put oranges or tangerines(my favorite over orange) into the toes of our stockings and my mother once explained to me that at Christmas when she was growing up they got oranges in their stockings each year and it was the only orange they would get for the entire year since the price was cost prohibitive for her parents to buy. She was born in 1913.

I started seeing Clementines in the grocery stores on the Oregon coast in the early 1980s and bought some then. I don't think I have bought another Mandarin orange since I got my first Clementine. They are sweeter and the lack of the seeds is a huge bonus.

Thanks Daisy,
Lani

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Posted by daisyavenue (from Long Beach, CA) on December 26, 2007 at 3:25 PM:

Thanks for the compliments and the shared enthusiasm, ya'll!

Gessiegail- I don't know where to order them unfortunately.

Wish that everyone could have had a clementine in their stocking yesterday morning!

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