Lately I’ve been on a big citrus fruit kick. I think it has something to do with my frustration over the clementine crop this season. Has anyone else had trouble finding good clementines? It seems like whenever I try a bag or a crate, more than half of the little oranges are dried out or not ripe. I don’t remember having so much trouble in previous years. In any case, I have been trying to fill the void left by the clementines, which has led me to sample many of the different citrus fruits at my local Whole Foods Market.
Blood oranges are always a tart treat, and I’ve recently become fond of Cara Cara oranges, but the real discovery was the honey tangerine. There are lots of varieties of tangerines, and I haven’t tried one that I haven’t enjoyed, but the honey tangerine is something really special. It is, by far, the sweetest citrus fruit that I have ever tasted. It shares the unique tangerine flavor that I have come to expect, but it is absolutely loaded with natural sugars.
It’s a great substitute for the clementine because like the clementine, it’s really easy to peel. The skin is thin and separates from the flesh really easily. This makes it ideal for packing in lunches, or just snacking on in front of the TV. Unlike clementines, however, the honey tangerine has seeds. It has lots and lots of seeds. I think I had one the other day that averaged about three seeds per segment. They’re not little seeds either, these are big honking seeds. Once you work out a little strategy to deal with them, however, you’re set. Let me assure you, the sweet juicy tangerine is well worth any hassle.
If you’re looking for something different to try see if you can find honey tangerines in your market.
Clacked by Bob Degon
on Apr 16, 2010 @ 10:00 EST5EDT
