Tangerine Vs. Orange: Know the Difference & Similarities

Orange (Citrus X Sinensis) is a fruit of Tree species called Citrus. They occur between red and orange on a visible spectrum. The commonly consumed species of orange is known as sweet orange, which is a hybrid between Pomelo (Citrus maxima) and Mandarin (Citrus reticulata). Orange has also been mentioned in ancient Chinese literature that dates back to 314 BC. 

Tangerine (Citrus Tangerina or Citrus X Tangerina) is a type of orange. It has been considered as whole separate species which originates from the different varieties of Mandarin. They usually occur in orange or darker shades of orange. Tangerines were first grown and cultivated in America in 1843 by Major Atway.  

Physical Differences: What makes them different from one another? 

The main distinction between orange and tangerine is size. Tangerines are smaller, less round, and a little bit flat than orange in appearance. They have a more reddish-orange color. Tangerines are said to be much sweeter than regular oranges. Riped tangerines are softer to touch, whereas oranges are a bit firm and heavy when they ripe.  Both tangerines and oranges can be seedless, depending on the variety. The rinds of both tangerines and oranges are thin. However, oranges have tighter rind which makes them a little difficult to peel.

On the other hand, tangerines generally have loose and thin skin that comes off quickly. Also, many tangerines are known for their zipper skin, meaning only a small tear can make the whole skin come off easily. 

Nutritional Distinctions  

When it comes to the nutritional values of tangerine and orange, they both share very similar profiles except for some of the few things. 

A Tangerine has 85% water content with about 4gm of carbs and almost no fat. Similarly, an orange has a slightly high water content about 87% with about 4gm of carbs and no fat. One of the notable differences between the two is that orange has almost double the content of Vitamin C. A whole orange provides you with 89% of your daily value, whereas a whole tangerine only leaves you with 44% of it.

Orange also has higher fiber content than tangerine, which makes them a good source of this beneficial carbohydrate. Oranges also have higher Vitamin A than tangerines.