Did you know that Clementine was the name of a French spy satellite, successor to another one named Cerise? Well, me neither.

That being said, let’s introduce our fruit of the week: the Clementine!

Clementines, or Citrus Clementina, are oblate, medium-sized citrus fruits. The exterior is a deep orange colour with a smooth, glossy appearance.
Like tangerines, they are easy to peel, but they lack the seeds.

Clementines are a cross-bred variety of a mandarin (Citrus Deliciosa) and a sweet orange (Citrus Sinensis).

History

The traditional story says that clementines were discovered by Father Clement Rodier in the garden of his orphanage in Misserghin, Algeria. We don’t know for sure whether he has made the cross-breeding intentionally or not, but as he was at the origin of the discovery, the new fruit was named after him. This dates back to the early 20th century.

Cultivation & Production

Clementines, which we find in our markets and supermarkets, are mainly produced in the Mediterranean region (Spain, Morocco, Tunisia). However, at a global level, the largest producer of clementines is China with about 50% of the world production and 11 millions tons (figure comprises the production of clementines, mandarins and tangerines).

Nutritional value & Health benefits

Clementines, as all citrus fruits, are rich in Vitamin C and therefore can be eaten to tackle tiredness. They also contain a large quantity of minerals, such as potassium and calcium, as well as provitamin A.

How to select & store

Clementines should be firm and heavy.
They can be stored in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 weeks or a few days at room temperature.

How to enjoy

Clementines can be eaten fresh, just peeled, as they are, or added to a salad fruit.
They can also be eaten in creams, ice creams, flans, cakes, cocktails, sauces…
The zest of the clementines is commonly used to flavour cakes, sauces or poultry.

Recipe ideas

• Clementine crème brûlée
• Clementine cold soup
• Clementine & prawns appetizers
• Clementine & spices jam
• Clementine curd
• Clementine mousse
• Orange & clementine tart
• Roast duck with spiced clementine sauce
• Clementine muffins
• Chicken with clementines & olives
• Clementine shortbread
• Clementines in rosemary & honey syrup

Sources: Wikipedia (EN, FR), Supertoinette

(c) photo by SykoSam via Flickr

Related posts

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• This Week’s Fruit: Apples
• This Week’s Fruit: Rhubarb
• This Week’s Veg: Spinach
• This Week’s Veg: Leek
• This Week’s Fruit: Kiwifruit
• This Week’s Veg: Chicory
• This Week’s Fruit: Pear
• January: Overview of Seasonal Food

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