December 11, 2025, 9:32 am | Read time: 3 minutes
While watermelons fill supermarket shelves in the summer, orange citrus fruits take their place in the fall. Clementines and mandarins are in season then. But how do these fruits differ? Which has fewer seeds, and what happens if you eat the white part? FITBOOK nutrition expert Sophie Brünke answers the most common questions.
It All Started with the Mandarin
The origin of mandarins is in Southeast Asia. They were cultivated in China as early as 4,000 years ago. Today, many main growing areas are in the tropics and subtropics. The latter include Spain, Turkey, and Italy, from where many of the fruits sold here originate.1
In addition to mandarins, there are also hybrids with other citrus fruits: Clementines, for example, are a mix of mandarin and the bitter orange variety pomeranze.
The Difference Between Mandarin and Clementine
Externally, mandarins and clementines differ only in size, as clementines are slightly smaller. There is also a visual difference inside: While mandarin flesh divides into nine segments, clementines can have eight to twelve.
However, the most interesting aspects are taste and seeds: If you prefer very sweet, go for the clementine; if you like aromatic, choose the mandarin. Additionally, clementines are popular because they contain fewer seeds and are often seedless.
How Healthy Mandarins Are—If You Keep This in Mind
How Many Mandarins Can You Safely Eat Per Day?
How to Store the Fruit
By nature, the fruits come with a robust “packaging,” namely their peel, with clementines having a slightly thicker one. This prevents them from drying out as quickly as mandarins. Still, both citrus fruits feel most comfortable at temperatures between 32 and 48 degrees Fahrenheit, so they should be stored in the refrigerator or a cool, dry pantry. This way, the fruits stay fresh for four to six weeks.2
What Makes Citrus Fruits So Healthy
Mandarins and clementines contain twice as much fiber as apples, about two grams per 100 grams. They are also rich in vitamin C. To meet an adult’s daily requirement, three to four fruits need to be consumed.
Additionally, the orange citrus fruits provide vitamins B1, B2, and niacin, as well as the carotenoids beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin in significant amounts.