Tangerines are a specific type of mandarin orange.

They are generally smaller and sweeter than oranges, a little flatter in shape, and they and have a thinner, looser skin that makes them easier to peel.

Mandarins are a type of orange and the overarching category that Tangerines, Clementines, and Satsumas fall into.

This citrus fruit has a thick skin, is round in shape, and has a tart flavor.

Oranges are second in size to the grapefruit.

Here’s a breakdown of the differences between these popular and delicious citrus fruits: While a tangerine is a type of mandarin, not all mandarins are tangerines.īut the confusion isn’t really a surprise, as the Citrus Variety Collection of the University of California has 167 different hybrids and varieties of mandarins listed.

In fact, throughout the United States, the terms mandarin and tangerine are used interchangeably, even though they are not the same thing.

Unsure of the differences between these small citrus fruits, many people confuse often oranges, mandarins, Tangerines, Clementines, and Satsumas.

Peeled clementines