These sunny, joyful fruits appear on the markets and in stores from late autumn and bring with them a good mood, a charge of vivacity, vitamins, and most importantly, a sense of celebration. Tangerines have long been strongly associated with the winter holidays, New Year and Christmas. The aroma of fresh fruits, along with the smell of a Christmas tree or pine paws, saturate the house with a sense of celebration and comfort.
What is remarkable about these citrus fruits, besides pleasant associations? It turns out that tangerines are rich in special volatile substances that really cause a good mood. A high content of vitamins and organic acids only enhance the positive effect. Mandarin juice improves digestion and goes well with meat, and some of the elements that make up solar fruits improve visual acuity and prevent many bad diseases from appearing. Tangerines in Asia symbolize longevity and a happy life and serve as a symbol of wishing for a long life in China, Japan and other countries.
The homeland of tangerines is the territory of modern India, where they were grown for several millennia before these citrus fruits came to China and acquired their modern name. In China, tangerines appeared at the beginning of our era and were available at first only to the emperor, and after centuries - only to the highest dignitaries. Only by the Middle Ages, tangerines from elite fruits moved into the category of ordinary ones and became available to many. In Europe, the taste of tangerines was recognized in the 16th century, after a series of crusades. The knights brought seeds of exotic fruits to their homeland, and greenhouses appeared in many rich houses and castles. By the way, the word "greenhouse" itself comes from the French orangerie(garden for oranges). Tangerines turned out to be not as tender as other citrus fruits, and they took root perfectly in rather cold places for them - in Greece, Italy, Spain and Turkey. From China, tangerines moved to the Japanese islands. From Spain to Morocco. From Turkey, tangerines came to Georgia (Adzharia) and Abkhazia. And today these fragrant citrus fruits are actively grown in all these countries for export. Each region has its own special varieties, properties of taste and color of fruits. Less well-known producing countries grow tangerines rather “for themselves”: the south of France, Algeria, Argentina and Brazil, Transcaucasia, Vietnam and the entire tropical part of Asia, India and countries close to them. Rather, it is easier to list countries in which tangerines are not grown. And they are loved in all countries, without exception, and in every kitchen you can find several recipes with tangerines, where fragrant sauces, salads are prepared from them, or eaten fresh.
Tangerines grow on a small (1.5-4 meters) evergreen tree that bears fruit once a year from November to January. One tree gives an average of 400-500 fruits. Of all the citrus fruits, tangerines have the hardiest temperament and grow in relatively cold and arid lands. The mandarin has a couple of varieties - tangerine and clementine. Tangerine is grown in China, where it is the main citrus crop. The peel of the tangerine is thin, easily removed, the fruits are sweet, orange with a reddish tint, there are few seeds. Clementine is a tangerine hybrid. Sweet flesh, no seeds, the peel is more difficult to separate than tangerine. It is grown mainly in the Mediterranean. It is clementine that enters the Russian markets as “Moroccan tangerines”. Clementine tolerates storage well and can lie down for about a month at a temperature of + 6-8 degrees and high humidity. In Japan, there is a variety of tangerines - a group of Ushimu varieties. This frost-resistant variety is successfully cultivated in cold (for mandarin) Japan and on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus.
Which tangerines to buy is the main question that torments with an abundance of choice. First of all, you need to ask about the origin of fruits. As a rule, tangerines come to Russia from Abkhazia, Turkey, Morocco and less often from Spain. Turkish tangerines are the cheapest, sour, with an abundance of seeds, the skin is removed poorly. Tangerines from Abkhazia are the most common. They have medium sourness, yellowish skin color, which is removed quite easily. Just like in Turkish ones, there are a lot of seeds in Abkhazian tangerines. Moroccan tangerines (clementine) are a hybrid of mandarin and king orange. They taste sweet, the peel is dark orange, it is easily removed, there are no seeds. Spanish tangerines are large, very sweet, with an easily detached peel with one or two seeds. Spanish - the most expensive tangerines on the Russian market. In the east of Russia, you can find Chinese tangerines or Vietnamese tangerines. Tangerines are distinguished by their pumpkin-like shape, sweet and sour taste and a small amount of seeds. Vietnamese tangerines have a thick aroma, large size and sweet taste. The best of them have a yellow-red skin and rich bright yellow flesh.
A person often intuitively feels healthy foods, trying to eat as many of them as possible. Tangerines are really very useful. They cheer up not only with their color and aroma, but also with a whole complex of acids, vitamins and trace elements. In addition to a rich set of familiar elements, tangerines contain rare substances: choline, lutein and zeaxanthin.
Choline is one of the rare and very useful elements. It is found only in egg yolk and tangerines. Choline is especially useful for pregnant women. The presence of choline in the body reduces the risk of birth defects and defects by 2.5 times (according to American scientists). Choline affects brain development, memory function, reduces inflammation caused by cardiovascular disease.
Lutein is another essential element found in tangerines. He is responsible for the sharpness and clarity of vision. Lutein paired with zeaxanthin absorb the blue part of the spectrum (ultraviolet) of light and neutralize its destructive effect on sensitive retinal tissues. This is especially important now, when the ozone layer protects the eyes from radiation less and less every year, and computer screens exacerbate the picture. The fact is that the eyes are designed for reflected light, while the screens themselves emit a fairly strong light flux. Episodic effects of UV rays are not as terrible as constant, albeit insignificant, radiation. Lutein is the best at protecting vision from UV radiation, and its protective properties once again speak in favor of tangerines. By the way, in addition to tangerines, lutein is found in egg yolks.
The list of "regular" vitamins in tangerines is also quite impressive. Thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), pyridoxine (B6), folacin (B9), ascorbic acid (C), vitamin K, which increases vascular elasticity, and vitamin D. From trace elements tangerines contain calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, sodium and potassium. Tangerines contain easily soluble sugars, various organic acids, mood-lifting phytoncides, and essential oil, which includes α-limonene, citral, caprylic and other aldehydes, alcohols and esters, which give tangerines a specific taste and aroma.
Tangerines increase appetite, speed up metabolic processes, replenish vitamin reserves and strengthen the body in winter, improve digestion and fight microbes with the help of a complex of phytoncides. In addition to these obvious properties, there is still an unexplored effect of tangerine juice on certain types of bacteria that cause skin diseases. So tangerines in some cases make us more beautiful.
Juice is traditionally squeezed out of tangerines, compotes, jams, jellies and preserves are cooked. In Asian and Oriental cuisines, tangerines are often used in sauces, meat, poultry and fish dishes, rice, salads, cookies and other sweets. By the way, in Asia, tangerine juice is considered the best companion for pork dishes. Tangerine juice promotes better digestion of fatty foods and serves as an analogue of the Mediterranean "wine" meat ally. Tangerine peel is used as a substitute for orange peel. By the way, a decoction of tangerine peel in the east has always been used to treat cough and nausea. It is noted that the essential oils of tangerine peel significantly reduce throat irritation in bronchitis and improve overall well-being.
Recipes with tangerines
Mandarin salad
Ingredients:
for salad:
150 g watercress,
bunch of spinach,
3 large tangerines
100 g peeled pine nuts,
for refueling:
1 tangerine (juice)
1 orange (juice)
1 lemon (juice)
3 art. tablespoons of olive oil
salt and pepper - to taste.
Cooking:
Prepare the dressing by squeezing the citrus juice and mixing it with the oil and salt. Mix thoroughly.
Rinse lettuce and spinach in cold water. Lay out on paper towels and let dry. Peel the tangerines and cut into slices. Toast the pine nuts lightly in a frying pan (without oil). Chop lettuce and spinach, mix gently and put in a salad bowl, season with sauce and add nuts and tangerines on top for decoration. The salad can be used as an accompaniment to fatty meats such as pork.
Meat with mandarin sauce
Ingredients:
500 g pork (tenderloin),
6 tangerines,
3 oranges
1 st. a spoonful of wine vinegar
2 tbsp. spoons of honey
1 st. mustard spoon,
1 st. a spoonful of starch
salt and pepper - to taste.
Cooking:
Rinse the tangerines, peel and cut into slices. Squeeze the juice from oranges, add vinegar, mustard, honey and tangerine slices to it. Heat the resulting sauce and cook for 15 minutes. Add starch diluted with 2-3 tablespoons of cold water. Cut the pork into thin slices (as for goulash) and fry in hot oil. Add the sauce to the already cooked meat and simmer for a few minutes. When serving, you can decorate the dish with fresh tangerine slices.
Fruit mix
Ingredients:
4 tangerines,
2 apples
12 pcs. prunes,
4 tbsp. spoons of yogurt
4 tbsp. tablespoons chopped pistachios
4 tbsp. spoons of grated chocolate
4 tbsp. spoons of finely chopped candied fruits or raisins of different varieties,
½ teaspoon ground cloves.
Cooking:
Rinse tangerines, peel and divide into slices. Rinse the apples, remove the core, cut into strips and sprinkle with lemon juice so that the flesh of the apples does not darken. Soak prunes in hot water for 20 minutes, then rinse in cold water, drain and cut into small pieces. Mix the ingredients, add ground cloves, season with yogurt and put in a salad bowl. Sprinkle grated chocolate and pistachios on top.
Earlier we already wrote about why our site is called a tangerine mood site and how you can use it to
And in this article we want to touch on the history a little and tell you where the name “tangerines” came from and why they are so useful, besides their bright orange color.
important tangerine
Word "tangerine" (mandarim) is of Portuguese origin and denotes an official, minister, dignitary, adviser. So in ancient China, Portuguese merchants called noble Chinese officials. These officials had great power in the feudal state, they had richly decorated luxurious houses, in the courtyards of which beautiful trees with bright golden fruits grew.
The fruits of these trees could only be eaten by wealthy dignitaries.
Returning to their homeland, the merchants talked about what they saw in distant overseas countries, while not forgetting to mention the customs of Chinese nobles and the wonderful trees with beautiful orange fruits.
sun. And they called them as well as noble officials - "tangerines".
In China and Japan, there is still a tradition to give a couple of tangerines for the New Year - they are considered symbols of good luck and wealth, success and financial well-being. In addition, the people of Japan believe that they bring happiness and longevity.
Benefits of Mandarin
So why so useful these wonderful fragrant fruits?
Firstly, the fruits of the tangerine tree, like all members of the citrus family, are extremely rich in vitamin C (ascorbic acid). This vitamin strengthens the immune system and helps the body fight various diseases.
viruses and bacteria. In addition, vitamin C protects our skin and prevents wrinkles.
In addition to ascorbic acid, the fruits of the tangerine tree contain many other vitamins - this is
vitamin A, and vitamins of group B, and vitamin P. Thus, vitamin A (retinol) helps us maintain visual acuity until old age and, together with vitamin C, being a natural antioxidant, protects skin
integuments and mucous membranes from the external influence of an aggressive environment.
Vitamin A compounds - carotenoids - not only give the fruits their natural, orange color, but also help protect the liver, improve metabolism.
B vitamins also improve skin condition, fight acne, acne and dandruff, as well as
improve overall well-being, relieve blues and insomnia, apathy and depression.
Vitamin P - helps the body absorb vitamin C.
In addition to vitamins, tangerines contain a lot of other useful substances, including those that successfully fight cancer. You can read about what other useful substances are contained in tangerines in our next article -.
How to choose citrus fruits
And finally, we want to remind you that ripe citrus fruits do not have to have a bright orange or yellow color. Some varieties of tangerines may have a green color, but be ripe inside. And remember that you should choose only whole fruits without visible damage, with a glossy shiny skin, which indicates their ripeness.
And be healthy!
The traditional smell of the approaching New Year is the smell of spruce and tangerines. There was a previous entry about spruce, and now about tangerine.
The tangerine tree is an evergreen plant with a spreading crown from 2 to 8 m in height. The fruits ripen for quite a long time - about 6-8 months. For one crop, up to 600 tangerines ripen on a tree.
The birthplace of the mandarin is Southeast Asia. So, in one of the Chinese manuscripts, dating back to 1178, 27 of the best varieties of oranges and tangerines are described. By the way, this plant was named so in China, because its fruits were available only to the richest and most well-born inhabitants of the country - tangerines. Mandarin (Portuguese mandarim, from Sanskrit mantrin - adviser), the name given by the Portuguese to officials (Chinese - guan) of feudal China, passed from Portuguese to Russian and Western European languages.
The tradition of the Chinese to give the hosts two tangerines when they come to visit during the celebration of the New Year, and when leaving the guests to receive two other tangerines from the hosts, originated around 1000 BC. Such a tradition arose for a simple reason, in Chinese, the pronounced “pair of mandarin” is consonant with the word “gold”. The tradition of giving tangerines at a meeting has found its response in the modern world, because, among other things, the Chinese believe in the magic of numbers that can attract happiness to both the giver and the person who is done.
This fruit was brought to Europe and America by merchants and travelers from southern China and Far East Asia. By the way, in Europe it appeared only in the XVI-XIX centuries. There is a version that the Neapolitan Michel Tenor brought the first tangerine tree to Italy in 1840. Like oranges, tangerines immediately fell in love with Europeans. At first they were grown only in greenhouses, but then in the south of France and in Italy, and later in other countries of Europe with a mild climate, mandarin trees also appeared in open ground. There is also a legend that the first tangerine trees were brought to Europe only at the beginning of the 19th century - as a gift to Napoleon.
World production of tangerines is constantly growing. Now the main producers of this fruit are China, Brazil, Korea, Italy, Algeria, Greece and Morocco. In Cyprus, along with lemon, mandarin is one of the two most important citrus export crops.
Actually, the name "tangerine" belongs only to yellow fruits. Intense orange - it is customary to call tangerines, but in Russia such a division of support from the general public has not received.
In Russia, for a long Soviet time, tangerines were not available to every family - in the post-war fifties, children from ordinary families did not even see this fruit. Until Gorbachev's perestroika, tangerines in the USSR remained a symbol of the New Year. Now on the shelves of supermarkets you will not find any kind of fruit, but without tangerines, the New Year is no longer the New Year ...
Tangerines contain potassium, magnesium and calcium, improve metabolism, promote the process of digestion. In addition to mineral salts and essential oil, mandarin contains a lot of vitamin P, B1, B2, as well as vitamin D, which has an anti-rachitic effect, vitamin K, which can ensure the elasticity of blood vessels, and beta-carotene, which inhibits the formation of cancer cells.
Tangerine juice is useful for asthma, bronchial disease. It is especially important not to forget about tangerines for smokers - they effectively clear the lungs of mucus.
By the way, compared to the pulp, tangerine peel is much richer in the content of flavonoids, pectin, organic acids and vitamin C, fresh improves the production of gastric secretions and stimulates the absorption of food, and is used in the treatment of diarrhea and bronchitis.
With what only tangerine was not crossed! They crossed with an orange - they got tangors, incredibly sweet and pitted. Combined with kumquat (another citrus fruit, but with a sweet peel) - it turned out calamondin. They remembered about ichang (cold-resistant citron with almost no pulp and with huge seeds) - ichandarin was formed. Combined with poncirus (bitter citrus with a hairy peel) - citrandarine came out. A child of a tangerine and just any citrus can even bear a common name - tangelo. In Russia, mineola is best known - a hybrid of mandarin and grapefruit, a dense orange fruit with a kind of large, literally pronounced pump at the top, reminiscent of ... an orange in taste. There is another hybrid of mandarin and grapefruit - coal fruit, also very sweet and pitted.
The birthplace of the mandarin is China. There is a legend that mandarins got their name in honor of Chinese mandarin officials. For a long time, citrus was grown only in the gardens of these respectable people. Mandarin has more than 50 varieties - they are different in taste, shape and color. There are even decorative...
Tangerines come in a wide variety of varieties and varieties, but at their most useful, they are similar. A tangerine contains only about 40 calories, 1.5 grams of fiber, and a ton of powerful bioflavonoids. And besides, as much vitamin C as in a whole orange. Clementine is the same tangerine, only pitted. Mandarins contain three times more vitamin A than oranges.
Tangerines are useful for a beautiful smile. Researchers at the State University of New York at Buffalo have shown that people who don't get their daily dose of vitamin C are much more susceptible to gingivitis. This is a condition in which the gums swell and bleed when you brush your teeth.
Tangerines are a delicious way to recharge your vitamin. Just rinse your mouth to wash the acid off the enamel of your teeth.
Tangerines are good for vision. Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss in people over 60, as is cataract. Thanks to vitamins C and A in tangerines, the development of such diseases slows down and even stops. One important note: do not keep peeled tangerines in the light for a long time, and do not heat them, as heat and light destroy vitamin C.
Tangerines make bones strong. A Tufts University study found that a group of men who consumed more vitamin C and potassium - just the combination, like in tangerines - had increased bone density. This means that they are not at risk of broken bones.
Tangerines are good for the skin. Powerful antioxidants destroy free radicals - the main cause of aging and wrinkles. Eat This Not That experts recommend not only eating tangerines, but also making a simple but effective mask: mix a tablespoon of unsweetened yogurt, a teaspoon of honey and the juice of 3-4 tangerine slices. Apply this mask on the face and décolleté for 10-15 minutes, then rinse and apply your usual moisturizer.
Antioxidants not only stimulate the production of new collagen and elastin, they also protect against the formation of new wrinkles. As you know, wrinkles appear due to the fact that the collagen-elastin framework of the skin is damaged by free radicals. Tangerine antioxidants destroy these aggressive molecules, preventing the formation of new wrinkles, thinning and dehydration of the skin.
Tangerines help to better absorb iron. Mandarin vitamins, working together with iron ions from food, help them to be better absorbed. Iron is critical to our well being. Iron deficiency is a disease called anemia (iron deficiency anemia). And even a slight lack of iron is visible as dark circles under the eyes.
Tangerines make hair better. Full absorption of iron is not only critical for breathing, it also helps keep hair looking shiny and healthy. And this is important for the mood, as it turned out. A study by Dr. Marianne LaFrance, professor of psychology and professor of women's and gender studies at Yale University, found that poor hair appearance affects our self-esteem quite strongly, and leads to a feeling of "social insecurity".
They really make the hair more beautiful. Vitamin B12 in tangerines promotes hair growth, reduces hair fall, and slows down the graying process. Some expensive hair care products contain tangerine extract. But it's still better to act from the inside. Tangerines moisturize from the inside. Vitamin A in tangerines makes the skin more hydrated from the inside and also regulates sebum secretion.
Tangerines improve mood. The smell of tangerines reduces stress, anxiety and brings a sense of optimism and peace. This is exactly what the Mayo Clinic Science Center found.
Tangerines strengthen immunity. Vitamin C from tangerines, unlike synthetic pharmaceuticals, has a powerful effect on the immune system and helps to resist colds.
Tangerines improve digestion. Vitamin A in tangerines improves the absorption of nutrients in the intestines, and in addition, it is a good source of water for the body.
Tangerines are good for muscles. They are rich in potassium (although not as rich as bananas). 115 milligrams of potassium in one tangerine is enough to improve the growth and recovery of muscle tissue after exercise.
According to researchers at the University of Western Ontario, the mandarin's main secret is a flavonoid called nobletin. This powerful flavonoid has been scientifically proven to help protect against type 2 diabetes and help prevent fat storage (especially in the liver), causing the body to burn fat and inhibit the formation and storage of fat. In addition to preventing diabetes, Nobletin has been shown to protect against atherosclerosis, the cause of heart disease.
Tangerine Cleansing Levels - Beginner to God...
Mandarin reduces the risk of stroke. In addition to nobletin, tangerines also contain enough potassium to protect our blood vessels. A study of 69,000 (sixty-nine thousand!!!) people showed that women who ate a lot of citrus fruits had a 19% lower risk of thrombosis, which is often the cause of strokes.
Tangerines are good for blood cells. A tangerine contains nearly 20 mg of folate, the natural form of folic acid. This important compound promotes DNA repair (i.e. repairing molecular damage to the cell's hereditary material) and healthy growth of body tissues.
Tangerines reduce the risk of cancer and other serious diseases. The active compounds in tangerines - tangeretin and limonoids - are able to inhibit the growth of leukemia and breast cancer cells. So far, these studies have been carried out in cell cultures and animals, but the information is still encouraging, since these were serious studies.
Tangerines help to maintain normal weight. The last on our list, but not the least important property of tangerines is the fiber in the composition of these fruits. In addition, the vitamins in tangerines suppress the production of cortisol, a stress hormone, one of the properties of which is to force the body to store fat.
Jokes about tangerines
Guide: - The Sukhum Botanical Garden is rich in unique tree species. - Excuse me, but what is the uniqueness of all these trees? - The uniqueness of all these trees is that at harvest time they are all tangerines.
One day, friends sent a New Year's package to the Chukchi: - tangerines and red caviar. The Chukchi writes a letter in response: - We received the parcel, thank you very much for the tangerines. And we threw away the cranberries - it smells like fish ...
The grandmother went with her grandson to the market and bought him tangerines. When they were returning by bus, the grandson ate a tangerine and asked loudly: - Grandma, and throw away the peel or throw it into moonshine?
They ask a Georgian: - Listen, dear, why is wine made from grapes, but not from tangerines? - Read carefully, dear, in the word grapes it is written: - WINE ..., and in the word tangerine ..
We walked today with my mother from the passport office. The street is terrible slush, mud and cold. We pass by an aunt who sold apples, tangerines and other goodies. Aunty is standing there alone on a patch of land, and judging by the weather and her mood, we were the only people she saw today. Mom stopped, looked at the aunt who had lost all hope, looked at the tangerines, and asked me: "Do you want a tangerine?" I nodded my head in the affirmative, and then my mother, in front of this aunt, takes out a hefty, orange tangerine from her bag !! Sartre himself would envy the hopelessness in the eyes of the aunt, and somewhere in hell, Satan at that moment hung his mother's portrait on the wall with the signature "Best Worker of the Month".
