Clementine vs. Orange – What’s The Difference?

Clementine and orange are quite similar to each other, so many people cannot differentiate between them. Both clementine and orange are healthy citrus fruits. Clementine is a very popular fruit, especially in the colder winter months; they are an excellent source of nutrition and can help boost the immune system, preventing common cold and flu symptoms.

Both of these fruits are harvested around November, so you are guaranteed to see clementine or oranges in the market whenever Christmas is around. Almost everyone loves clementine and oranges; According to a survey, almost thirty thousand tons of Clementine were consumed in Australia in 2020, and thirty-five thousand tons in 2015.

Another survey found out that more than seventy-eight million metric tons of oranges were produced worldwide, more than grapes, mangoes, apricots, tangerines, pineapples, melons, and peaches. In the same survey, Clementines were at the 9th position along with tangerines, mandarins, and satsumas, with 35.44 million metric tons’ production worldwide. 

At first glance, these two beautiful-looking fruits might appear similar and resemble each other quite a lot, but there are subtle differences in their taste and appearance that set them apart. You might know clementines as the little round oranges sold by Cuties and Halos, but they are, in fact, Clementines. 

Clementines 

In the scientific community, Clementine is known as Citrus Clementina, and it is considered a variety of mandarin. Clementines resemble tangerines because they are easy to peel and have a sweet taste. But they are smaller in size and have a bright orange color, and their skin is much smoother and shinier. Another thing about clementine is that they are much easier to peel because of their considerably thinner peel. 

Clementines are resistant to cold and can withstand low temperatures without getting spoiled. For this reason, they are available from November till April. But unlike oranges, you won’t find clementines around the year. Their sweet flavor combined with their lack of seeds makes them people’s favorite and makes them enjoyable for every age group (excepts for infants, of course). 

Clementines are grown in many different countries, but the most popular exporters of clementines are China, Brazil, Egypt, Morocco, Turkey, and Spain. You can also find clementines grown in California but rarely exported. Clementine is the perfect fruit for those who want to take advantage of the nutrients in citrus fruits while avoiding the tart flavor and the seeds that annoy most of us while eating these nutritious delights. 

Oranges

Orange is a household name that has become wildly popular. Almost everyone eats oranges once a year, but we rarely stop and think about what these fruits are. And this can be seen most clearly when we compare them to other citrus fruits like clementines, tangerines, and mandarins. 

Oranges were the fourth most cultivated fruits in 2019, following Bananas, Watermelons, and apples. But have you ever wondered, what makes oranges so popular? The answer to that is quite simple; They are inexpensive, nutritious, and tasty. 

Most of the oranges in the world are produced by China, Mexico, and the US; India is also the main producer of Oranges. The Indians first produced oranges around 3000 years ago. Today, many different varieties of Oranges are sold; these include blood oranges, Valencia, and navel. 

Like Clementines, Oranges are also hybrid fruits, which means that they were developed using two different fruits; In this case, these were impure mandarin oranges and pomelos. The most popular type of orange is sweet orange, which is called Citrus Sinensis in scientific terms. 

Differences

Oranges and Clementines might appear similar, but they are quite different. Here are some main factors that set these two apart (and some similarities). 

Nutrition

Both Clementine and Oranges have high water content and low protein, fats, and calories; This makes them perfect for people on a weight loss diet. Oranges and Clementines are also good for hydrating the body in winters when most of us drink less water than usual and walk around with dry, chapped lips. Both these fruits can provide water to the body along with important nutrients. 

Both clementines and Oranges have a good amount of dietary fiber, which can be helpful for our GI health and help manage appetite. The calories that come from these fruits are from the limited amount of sugar present. As you might already know, Clementines and oranges are excellent sources of Vitamin C. Now let’s talk about the differences. 

To put it simply, Oranges are the clear winners when comparing them with Clementines. Clementine’s nutrition is not bad either; they have lower cholesterol, saturated fats, and carbohydrates, but these nutrients are present in a low amount in oranges, so the difference isn’t that significant.

Taste 

Taste is an important factor that makes Clementines popular. Many people prefer the sweet, tangy flavor of Clementines over the sweet-tart flavor of Oranges. Clementines are said to have the sweetest flavor among all the citrus fruits. 

Appearance 

Clementines and oranges have a different appearance that you can observe at first glance. Firstly, Oranges are much bigger than clementines; they are also more round, while clementines are more oval. Secondly, clementines have a flatter top, while oranges have a rounded top and bottom. 

Thirdly, Oranges can have various colors, all of which are different shades of orange. This diversity in color is not seen in clementines, which are usually bright orange. Finally, Clementines tend to have much smoother skins than oranges. In addition to being shiny, their skin is also soft and thin, making it considerably easy to peel them compared to Oranges. 

So What’s the Difference Between Clementine and Orange?

Here is a list to sum up the key differences between Clementines and Oranges:

• Oranges tend to have a rounder shape, while Clementines are more oval. 
• Clementines are sweet and tangy, while oranges are sweet and tart. 
• Oranges are harder to peel because their skin is thick and hard; the opposite is true for clementines. 

Sources

• Foodstruct
• Statista
• Healthline