Mandarins, a favorite piece of fruit by many people, especially children love tangerines. They are small, round, orange and resemble a small orange. But where do mandarins actually come from and how do they get their name? And how can tangerines ensure a better night’s sleep and a radiant skin? Read more about the tasty piece of fruit in the article below, you will also find tasty recipes and simple treat ideas.
What is a mandarin?
A mandarin is an orange spherical fruit that grows on a mandarin tree, the Latin name for this is Citrus reticulata. A mandarin tree can reach a height of up to seven meters and grows mainly in Spain, Mexico and Morocco. Because the tree cannot withstand frost, it is not suitable for the Dutch garden. A tangerine most resembles a small orange and is one just like the orange citrus fruit. The small orange fruits are related to the lemon, grapefruit and lime. A tangerine is made up of small juicy edible pieces, the so-called wedges, generally with a (slightly) sour or sweet taste.
The popular fruit is usually eaten straight from hand (after peeling), but can also be used in various dishes. In addition, after pressing, the fruit can also be consumed very well as a drink.
From green to orange
A mandarin is ripe when the skin is orange in color. Most mandarins are picked by hand while they are still green. The moment they are transported, from October to about February, they only get their orange color under the influence of cold (er) temperatures.
Where does the name “mandarin” come from?
It is not entirely agreed where the name “mandarin” comes from. There are a number of different theories about this:
- In China, the fruit was seen as a product for the rich and elite and was therefore compared to “the Mandarins”, who were the highest ranking Chinese government officials. As a result, the citrus fruit soon received the same name.
- “The Mandarins” loved the small orange round fruits and so the fruits were named after them.
- Citrus fruits were a traditional gift for the top Chinese state officials.
- The headgear of “the Mandarins” resembled the orange fruit.
Soothing and antispasmodic
The peel of the mandarin contains an oil that has a soothing and antispasmodic effect on the human body and mind. Some examples:
- Stimulates digestion. For digestive problems, there are special capsules with mandarin oil that can be taken. Always read the package leaflet carefully before use and, if possible, consult your doctor.
- Positive effect on the resistance.
- Calms the autonomic nervous system (the autonomic nervous system mainly regulates heart rate, digestion and breathing).
- Ensures a good night’s sleep by calming troubled thoughts and ensuring a deep (er) sleep. To do this, drizzle a little mandarin oil on your pillow or on an aroma stone that you then place on your bedside table.
- The oil in the peel is also responsible for the typical fresh mandarin scent and creates a cozy atmosphere (in the living room). You can easily create this with a few drops mandarin oil to evaporate in an aroma lamp.
- The scent of tangerines also has a positive effect on depression, stress, anxiety and sadness.
Beautiful and radiant skin
Because tangerines contain a lot of vitamin C, they can provide a beautiful and radiant skin, vitamin C maintains the collagen level so that wrinkles can get less chance.
Tired skin can also get a delicious boost from tangerines: mix a tablespoon of almond oil or wheat germ oil with four drops of tangerine oil and then apply it to your face before going to sleep. Try it carefully first to detect any allergic reaction early.
Mandarin oil can also be used very well in massage of the skin, with massage of an orange peel skin can even (partially) reduce cellulite.
Mandarins also protect against harmful UV rays, which can cause wrinkles and even cancer.
Nutritional value of tangerine
A mandarin is very healthy, for example it contains no fat and a lot of vitamin C, which is very important for a good resistance. With two mandarins a day you already have the recommended daily amount of vitamin C. In addition, it contains a lot of calcium, which is essential for healthy bones and teeth. Mandarins also contain a lot of potassium, which ensures a healthy blood pressure and proper functioning of the muscles.
Mandarins contain a lot of fiber, which has a positive effect on bowel movements. However, when consumed in excess, mandarins can cause diarrhea.
Nutritional value of one mandarin:
- 16 Kcal
- 67 KJ
- Proteins 0 grams
- Carbohydrates 4 grams
- Fat 0 grams
Drumsticks with garlic and mandarin mayonnaise
Necessities for six people:
- 12 chicken drumsticks
- 6 cloves of garlic, each in 6 small pieces
- 1.5 tsp paprika powder
- 3/4 teaspoon chili powder
- 1.5 mandarin
- 9 tablespoons of mayonnaise
- pepper and salt to taste
Preparation method:
- Preheat the oven to 200 ° C
- Stick 3 pieces of garlic into the chicken meat per drumstick by making small cuts in the meat beforehand.
- Mix the chili powder, paprika, salt and pepper together and rub the drumsticks with it.
- Place the seasoned drumsticks in an oven dish and place in the preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes.
- Wash the peel of the mandarins very thoroughly and finely grate half of the peel.
- Squeeze the rest of the mandarins and collect the juice.
- Mix the finely grated zest and juice with the mayonnaise and add salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve the fresh mandarin mayonnaise with the drumsticks.
Tiramisu with tangerines
Necessities for six people:
- 1.5 vanilla pods (vanilla pod)
- 4.5 tablespoons of white caster sugar
- 150 g mascarpone (fresh cheese)
- 200 g whipped cream, beaten until stiff
- 9 mandarins
- 12 macaroons, roughly crumbled
- 6 tablespoons sambuca (Italian aniseed liqueur)
- 6 teaspoons of cocoa powder
- 6 dishes or glasses
Preparation method:
- Remove the pith from the pods with a knife by cutting them open lengthwise and scraping out the contents with the tip.
- Mix the vanilla pith with the white caster sugar into the mascarpone and then carefully fold in the whipped cream.
- Peel the tangerines and remove the skins from the wedges, collect the juice that is released in a bowl.
- Place half of the crumbled macaroons in the ramekins and sprinkle the cookies with sambuca (half a tablespoon per ramekin) and a little tangerine juice.
- Divide half of the mascarpone mixture among the six bowls and top with a few wedges of tangerine.
- Place the remaining macaroons on top of the mixture and sprinkle with the sambuca, then divide the rest of the mascarpone mixture over the ramekins.
- Place the remaining wedges on top of the tiramisu and finally sprinkle with cocoa powder.
Treat mandarins
Treat on tangerines is a tasty and above all a healthy and sensible choice. Unfortunately, the tangerine treat itself isn’t that spectacular, especially when your child is full with a bag tangerines the class is a bit boring. It is much more fun and impressive to make something special and the strange thing is, a mandarin that is presented in an original way usually tastes much better too!
Ice cream
Make an ice cream from the mandarin. This can be done in different ways, for the cone you can use an original ice cream cone that you buy in the supermarket, but you can also make the cone yourself from (different colors) sturdy paper or cardboard. You can choose whether to fill the cone with something tasty, such as popcorn or candies. Then place the tangerine on the cone, to keep the tangerine in place it is advisable to wrap the whole with cellophane. Finally, stick brightly colored garlands on the cellophane and your “mandarin ice cream” is ready.
Fast and cheerful
Are you short on time but still want to treat the mandarins in a fun way? Then wrap them, just like a candy, in brightly colored (crepe) paper. Decorate them with gift ribbon and place them in a basket or bowl.
With a hat
Mandarins look a bit like small round orange heads and therefore do well with a hat. You can make hats out of paper in the shape of a pointed hat, these are a kind of inverted cones and easy to attach using double-sided tape. But a Chinese hat is also very sweet on a mandarin head. To make a “chinese hat”, cut about a quarter out of a circular piece of paper and then fold the hat around. Secure the whole with a staple or a piece of (double-sided) adhesive tape. You can make a piece of ribbon on both sides of the hat or attach a braid on the back. No time to make (chinese) hats? Prick an umbrella from top to bottom, centrally through the mandarin. Then draw a face on the tangerine and your tangerine treat is ready.
