The flavour of tangerines has a sweeter, less tangy flavour than oranges.Oranges are more acidic, having a pH value of 2.4 than tangerines having a pH value of 3.0.However, the exception here is blood oranges having dark red colour.Īlthough both have an almost similar nutrient profile, flavours of tangerine vs. Tangerines have a reddish-orange tone, while oranges have a yellowish-orange shade. Colour: Although their colour is orange, their shades vary.Touch: When fully ripe, oranges become heavy and firm, while tangerines are softer to touch.Peelability: Although both are thin-skinned, tangerines have a loose rind that makes them easy to peel.However, tangerines are smaller and flattened. However, if you follow the rule of thumb, oranges (especially the sweet navel orange) tend to be rounder and bigger. Shape and size: Oranges have various varieties, due to which their shapes and sizes vary.Let's check out their differences in appearance. Vitamin A content in tangerines is higher than the oranges.Īlthough there is a close similarity between oranges and tangerines, there are many differentiating points of tangerine vs. Oranges can be a good source of advantageous carbohydrates as it has more fibre than tangerines. Oranges have approximately double Vitamin C than the tangerines. Its glycemic index is 47, which stabilises the blood sugar level.ĭespite almost similar nutrient composition, the basic difference between tangerines and oranges is Vitamin C content. Tangerines contain natural sugars like fructose, sucrose, and glucose. It has a minimal glycemic effect of about 40, inhibiting the blood sugar from rising. orange while taking 100 g or 3.5-ounce portions of both. Here is the nutritional comparison of tangerine vs. However, a medium-sized orange has approx 87% water. Let's take a look at their nutrient composition separately.Ī whole tangerine contains approx 85% of water and mostly carbs. Nutritional content is the vital point of difference between tangerine vs. Consequently, the growth of oranges spread to Spain and Morocco. Further, Romans grew oranges on the conquered lands of North Africa. However, oranges are widely grown in Texas, Florida, Arizona, and California.Īround 100 BC, traders from the Persian empire bought oranges from Ceylon and India to the Roman Empire. It has been cultivated for 7000 years in China and India, typically from 2500 BC. It is the sweet species of an orange tree, a hybrid of mandarin and pomelo. When analysing the difference between tangerines and oranges, orange originated from Asia, modern Southeast China. Subtropical regions are ideal for tangerine cultivation, including the Southern United States and southern Europe. Tangerines were first grown in the 1800s in Palatka, Florida, by Major Attaway, imported from Morocco's Tangier port. However, it spread westward through trade routes to the Mediterranean. It is an indigenous fruit of Southeast Asia. Tangerines are one of the varieties of mandarin oranges, falling under the red to orange-colored fruit group. Let's look into the differences between tangerines and oranges. Similar in appearance, both belong to the citrus fruit family.īut what is the difference between tangerines and oranges? Technically, they are different species of the citrus genus and have many other differences.

Oh, it's an orange, No no, it's a tangerine.' It is easy to confuse oranges with tangerines. 'It is delicious, sweet, citrusy, fresh, and nutritious.

Difference between orange and tangerine