PrintGreat Clementines from California Right Here in NYC
In theory a clementine (aka a mandarin orange) is a perfect snack. It's easy to peel, is good for you, it's ready to be eaten in bite-size sections, and it can be juicy, sweet, spicy, and delicious. The only problem is that far too often those wooden boxes of clementines we see in every market are filled with either unripe fruit that was picked too early or soft, over-ripe fruit that's inedible. Plus, these clementines are deceptively packaged with orange plastic mesh on top so that the fruit looks to be a perfectly ripe orange, when it's in fact a sickly yellow. The root of these clementines' problems is the distance they have traveled. Clementines shipped from Spain or Morocco by ship are by definition going to arrive in less than stellar shape. They are going to have to be picked before they are ripe to withstand the rigors of their month-long journey to America.
I have tasted perfect mandarin oranges at the organic farmers' market in Santa Monica, California, that bear no resemblance to the clementines described above. They are grown by the Polito family, and Bob and Mary Polito do ship. But I have discovered some fabulous mandarin oranges right here in New York City.
That's right. At Fairway I stumbled on to Mini Me Mandarins, Owari Satsuma Mandarins, straight outta Rising C Ranches in Reedley, California. I'm finishing my second box of these beauties, and I haven't had a bad piece of fruit yet. These satsumas are juicy, intensely flavored specimens of citrus deliciousness. The bright orange color of the peel and the vibrant orange-red color of the tiny sections immediately let you know you are going to be biting into a glorious piece of fruit.
I don't know how much longer these babies are going to be around, but I bought some last night, so they are here now.
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3 Comments:
In general, it's been my experience that the Spanish fruit has tasted better than the California as bought here (Wholefoods, Stop and Shop), but yours certainly sound worth a try.
gustoct at 10:30AM on 12/14/07
ONe of the advantages of living in NorCal is that mandarins/satsumas/clementines are ridiculously cheap, like $0.90 a pound. I eat at least 5 pounds a week during season. In fact, I am eating one right now!
HunterAnglerGardenerCook at 4:55PM on 12/14/07
With a coupon - we got five pounds of california clementines (California cuties was the brand) for $1.99. They are YUMMY. As there is just two of us, we're having to race a bit to get through the box before they go bad but wow - sweet, fresh, bright, they are a real treat.
(As opposed to a few I paid much more for at a local produce. Ah well, happy I found a good box in the end! )
ohiogal at 8:41PM on 12/15/07