Japanese Citrus, Mandarin Orange

What is Citrus?

It is the generic name of plants belonging to the mandarin family.

In Japan, there are various kinds of citrus like Unshu Mikan (Satsuma Mandarin), Ponkan, Iyokan, Dekopon®, Setoka, Beni Madonna, Kiyomi, Kanpei, Hassaku, Lemon, Yuzu, Sudachi, Kabosu, Grapefruit, Shonan gold.

[Citrus variety]

	"Unshu Mikan / Satsuma Mandarin" (温州みかん) The origin of Unshu Mikan is Kagoshima Prefecture, which is known to have been accidentally born from citrus fruits passed from China about 400 years ago. Unshu Mikan (Wenzhou tangerine) was named after Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, which was famous for citrus fruits at the time. Unshu Mikan is also called "Satsuma Mandarin", because Satsuma Province (current Kagoshima Prefecture) first exported to the West. In Japan, Unshu Mikan is grown in Wakayama, Ehime, Shizuoka, Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Saga, and Kanagawa etc. Fruit Characteristics: contains abundant vitamin C, β-cryptoxanthin; rind smooth, easy to peel; seedless; juicy; sugar acid rate good.
	"Iyokan" (伊予柑) It was discovered in 1886 in Higashibun Village (current Hagi City), Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. It's mostly grown in Ehime Prefecture. "Iyokan" is a near-homophone for "IIYOKAN" in Japanese that means "good feeling." So, it's sold for the students studying for the exams in winter and it sends the message "good luck" to them. Fruit Characteristics: big size; contains abundant vitamin C, citric acid; skin thicker than Unshu Mikan, easy to peel; juicy; sweetness; sweet scent.
	"Hassaku" (八朔) It was discovered in1860 in Innoshima, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. "Hassaku" means August 1st by the lunar calendar (current September). People could eat it from that time. In Japan, Hassaku is grown in Wakayama, Hiroshima, Ehime and Tokushima etc. Fruit Characteristics: contains abundant vitamin C, folic acid, potassium, fiber; skin thick; juicy; little bitterness, sourness.
	'Amanats' (甘夏) It was discovered around 1935 at the Kawano Yutaka's farm in Kamiao, Tsukumi, Oita Prefecture, among the trees planted as summer tangerines and registered under the name "Kawanoha Province" in 1950.The size of the fruit is 400 to 500 grams, and the fruit is thick and has a flavor like summer tangerines, but it is slightly sour and sweet.
	"Kiyomi" (清見) Kiyomi is a Japanese citrus fruit that is a hybrid of an Unshu Mikan (Miyagawa Wase mikan) and an orange. It was created at the experiment station in Shizuoka city in 1949 as the first tangor in Japan. It was named after the lagoon "Kiyomigata" near the experiment station in 1979. It's often used as a parent citrus to create new hybrids such as Dekopon® and Setoka. In Japan, Kiyomi is grown in Ehime, Wakayama, Saga and Hiroshima etc. Fruit Characteristics: contains abundant vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin E, β-cryptoxanthin, fiber; oblate, soft; easy to peel; seedless; juicy; sweetness; orange scent.
	"Ponkan" (ポンカン) The origin is the Suntara region of India. The name "Pon" comes from the Indian city "Poona" and "kan" means citrus fruit. Ponkan is widely grown in the US, Brazil, Taiwan, China, Southeast Asia and Japan. In Japan, it's grown in Ehime, Kagoshima, Kochi, Miyazaki and Kumamoto etc. Ponkan is often used as a parent citrus to create new hybrids. Fruit Characteristics: contains abundant vitamin C, vitamin B1, β-cryptoxanthin, potassium, folic acid, citric acid, carotene; round in shape; rind orange in color, thin, smooth, easy to peel; seedless; juicy; sweetness; orange scent.
	"Dekopon®" (デコポン®) Dekopon® is a hybrid between Kiyomi and Ponkan (Nakano no.3), developed in Japan in 1972. It's grown in Kumamoto, Ehime, Wakayama, Saga and Hiroshima etc. The name "deko" means the large protruding bump on the top of the fruit and "pon" comes from its parent "Ponkan." Dekopon® is registered as a trade mark by Kumamoto Fruit Agricultural Cooperative Association. The name "Dekopon®" is allowed to use by meeting certain quality standards (sugar level above 13° Bx and citric acid below 1.0%). In commemoration of the 15th anniversary of the first shipment of Dekopon®, we (Japan Fruit Growers Cooperative Association) designed March 1st "Dekopon® Day" in 2006. Fruit Characteristics: big size; contains abundant vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin B1, potassium, magnesium, calcium, fiber; rind thick, easy to peel; seedless; juicy; sweetness.