Mandarin

Benefits

Mandarin are a sweet, round citrus fruit packed with vitamins and minerals,  and is among the richest sources of vitamin C.

Also, they are an excellent source of iron, potassium, folate, fiber and flavonoids. Like all other citrus fruits, mandarin are highly alkaline in nature, which makes the fruit very detoxing.

In addition to the nutritional benefits, mandarin is a fruit of a healthy heart and encourages a continuous good mood, and it can help fight premature aging, and the low calorie and high fiber content can also aid in weight loss.

Vitamin C acts as a powerful antioxidant in the body. This vitamin is also essential for immune system function, by helping the body to absorb iron from plant-based foods.

Mandarin also provides healthful vitamins, vitamin A, a compound that is important for healthy skin and eyesight and B-vitamins, including thiamin and folate, which help keep the nervous and reproductive systems healthy and help create red blood cells.

A 141 g mandarin also contains the following nutrients:

    16.27 g carbohydrate

      3.4 g of fiber

     61 mg of calcium

    14 mg of magnesium

   238 mg of potassium

     63.5 mg of vitamin C

Symbolism

Mandarin oranges have always been considered as a traditional symbol of good fortune. This is mainly because the word orange, when spoken in mandarin, sounds similar to the word “wealth”. The orange hue of the fruit is also said to symbolise “gold”, which makes it a very auspicious fruit.

Giving mandarin oranges to loved ones during the celebration is a symbolic way of wishing someone happiness and prosperity, as you are literally giving them “wealth”. Exchanging mandarin oranges when visiting one’s house has always been a form of respect and tradition. Its auspiciousness makes it a crucial decorative item everywhere, such as homes, offices, shops, etc. Its presence acts as an invitation for good fortune to bless the inhabitants.

While exchanging gifts is a good practise, the predominant point of Chinese New Year has always been to spend quality time with the people you love. To meet, to catch up, to enjoy each other’s presence. Mandarin oranges are a simple way of showing your appreciation to the people you love. To wish them happiness, just as they have brought happiness to you.

A Bit of History

Mandarin fruit has supplied the world with delicious goodness for thousands of years now. Native to Southeast Asia, it’s sweet citrus taste and thin-skin, easy retrieval makes fresh mandarin one of the most popular healthy.

Orange mandarin treeMandarins oranges—in all their forms–are probably descended from wild oranges that grew in northeast India as long as 3,000 years ago. From India, mandarins made their way to China.

The first of these small, loose-skinned oranges were brought to England from China in 1805. From England, the mandarin made its way to Italy in the next decade, and from Italy it came into wide cultivation and spread to other Mediterranean countries including several in North Africa. From China, the mandarin was introduced into Australia in the 1820s.

The mandarin gained its nickname when it was introduced into England. Mandarin denoted the form of Chinese spoken by public officials and other educated people in China. The robes worn by public officials or mandarins in the Chinese empire of that time were deep orange and so this Chinese import was dubbed a mandarin.

In early days, the spread of Mandarines from China,reached northern Morocco where they thrived. The city of Tangier became a Portuguese colony, and the fruit was a favourite in the Portuguese royal households.

When Catherine of Braganza married into the British Royal family, she had the fruit shipped to England from the port of Tangier . The Tangier variety of MANDARINES became known as TANGERINES.