Australian Mandarin Varieties
Different types of mandarins are available at different times of the year so to find out what’s in season now, see below our guide:
There are more than 10 varieties of mandarins available in Australia, including the most popular Imperial Mandarin. Other varieties we have on our shelves in store include Honey Murcott, Hickson, Daisy and Afourer mandarins. Some varieties such as Imperial are easier to peel and contain fewer seeds than others. Mandarins are high in vitamin C and antioxidants, and are low-GI. Look for fruit that feels heavy for its size and is firm to touch. Store mandarins in a cool dry place until ready to eat.
Imperial - A small to medium sized fruit with smooth, thin-skinned. Easy to peel with a stunning sweet flavour.
Honey Murcott - A deliciously sweet, late maturing fruit with a distinctive honey taste (hence the name). Similar in size to an Imperial, but seeded and not quite as easy to peel. The Honey Murcott has a high juice and sugar content, making it the sweetest of all the mandarin varieties.
Afourer - A highly attractive deep orange-red colour and is easy to peel. Very flavoursome mandarin with a high juicy content. Usually seedless, but depends on growing conditions.
Hickson - This variety is reported to have originated near the town of Roma, Qld, Australia. The fruit averages 6 cm X 5 cm, has a slight neck, and a smooth, yellowish-orange rind with some gloss. The orange-fleshed fruit is juicy with good flavor and has 12-15 seeds.
Sumo - The Australian-grown, seedless Sumo Citrus mandarin is known for its sweet and juicy flesh, but particularly its large size and identifiable "top-knot".
Empress - These are a new variety of mandarins similar to a Honey Murcott but highly coloured. These fruit have a moderate amount of seeds and are not easy peel, but have a low acid content and are juicy and very sweet.
Daisy - Daisy produces a medium-large, mid-season mandarin with an attractive dark orange rind. . Daisy is moderately seedy with one to three seeds per section.
Photo Source: Victorian Citrus Farms
