Soft citrus, also known as ‘easy peelers’ for obvious reasons, means mandarins of cultivars grown from the species Citrus reticulata Blanco, Citrus unshiu Marcow, Citrus nobilis Lour, Citrus deliciosa Tenore and their hybrids. Mandarins are native to south-eastern Asia and the Philippines and are members of Citrus reticulate Blanco. Dubbed ‘kid-glove’ oranges, mandarins have a thin, loose peel. The name ‘tangerine’ can be applied as an alternate name to the whole group but is usually confined to the types with red-orange skin in the trade. Smaller and less spherical than oranges, they’re pebbly-skinned.
Nadorcotts
Nadorcotts are from Morocco. A patented, late-season seedless variety, it’s distinguished by its red-orange colour and thinner peel. Nadorcott is sweet with a well-balanced acidity.
Novas
Novas are medium to large with the rind being a reddish-orange and the flesh deep orange. Juicy and sweet, production is in April.
Orri
Originally from Isreal. Orri’s fruit shape is a mix between oblate and spheroid. The external appearance is a rind colour of light orange at maturity. Relatively easy peeling with a moderate rind oil content. Internal appearance is dense, with
juicy segments.
Leanri
Originate from Esselen Nursery, Malelane, Mpumalanga, South Africa. Fruit shape varies from slightly flat (similar to Nadorcott) to round (similar to Clementine). Leanri’s are easy pealing fruit. The fruit is firm with a smooth and rather thin rind which develops a deep orange colour at maturity. Even and large segments develop inside with a deep orange flesh colour at maturity, with an open core.
Samba
A new mandarin cultivar is about to be released to South Africa citrus growers. Key traits include exceptional flavour and colour, time of harvest, low-seeded when not cross-pollinated, favourable fruit size, and ease-of-peeling.
Queen
Queen is a new and distinctive mandarin hybrid cultivar, which distinguishes itself by having mid to late season maturity, a large size, distinguished flat shape, easily peeled, a smooth rind texture, white albedo, red color, rich sweet flavor and pleasant aroma. It further distinguishes itself by being seedless or virtually seedless.
