Mikan – Mandarin Oranges from Japan

In case you requested the common Japanese particular person what probably the most acquainted fruit was to them, they’d undoubtedly instantly consider the mikan (mandarin orange). A household sits round a kotatsu (a conventional Japanese desk with an electrical heater hooked up to the underside), watching TV and consuming mikan — the traditional image of a harmonious household scene within the wintertime.

What’s Mikan?

Mikan, additionally referred to as “Unshu Mikan,” has grown in Japan for over 400 years. Japanese farmers primarily domesticate this fruit in southern areas. This small mandarin peels simply and accommodates no seeds. Unshu Mikan represents 70% of all citrus gross sales in Japan. Ehime Prefecture leads Japan’s citrus manufacturing. Individuals name Ehime the “Citrus Kingdom” for its huge mikan harvests. The prefecture sits on Shikoku Island, good for rising citrus.

One of many key causes for the mikan’s recognition is its availability all through a protracted season, from October to March. The early-season selection, “wase,” is fashionable for its mild, refreshing sweetness, whereas the late-season “okute” selection provides a deeper, richer taste.

Origin of Mikan in Japan

The time period “Mikan” refers to small, simply peeled citrus fruits. The Unshu mandarin dominates Japanese citrus manufacturing with its excessive yields. The identify “Unshu” originates from China’s Zhejiang Province, well-known for citrus. The fruit’s historical past started on Nagashima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture. Scientists consider it began as an unintended seedling from Chinese language citrus. Throughout the Edo interval, folks most well-liked Kishu mandarins over seedless Unshu. The Meiji period introduced recognition to Unshu mandarins for his or her comfort. These mandarins thrive in Japan’s heat coastal areas. Farmers focus cultivation in areas west of the Kanto area. Wakayama, Ehime, and Shizuoka produce probably the most mandarins nationally.

The Sixties noticed enlargement into Kyushu’s rising areas. Kumamoto and Nagasaki developed robust cultivation practices. Trendy farming methods elevated manufacturing considerably. Cautious breeding improved fruit high quality and resistance. These citrus fruits want particular local weather circumstances to develop effectively. Coastal areas present splendid rising circumstances with reasonable temperatures. Japanese farmers preserve strict high quality requirements for his or her mikan. The fruit requires year-round look after optimum harvests.

Reference: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

Different varieties of Japanese Mandarins

Maana Mikan

Maana mikan come from the Maana District in Ehime, alongside Japan’s western shoreline. Identified for his or her skinny peel and wealthy candy taste, locals cultivated these mandarins by about 180 households, producing 7,000-8,000 tons of fruit yearly. The steep, terraced fields the place locals develop them require principally handbook labor, making the cultivation course of difficult however rewarding. The nice and cozy local weather, ample sunshine, mineral-rich soil, and proximity to the ocean create splendid circumstances for these award-winning mandarins.

Kiyomi

The Kiyomi combines unshu mikan and orange traits. This hybrid fruit blends unshu sweetness with orange’s citrusy aroma and acidity. Farmers harvest these fruits between January and April. The fruit measures 7-8 cm and sometimes accommodates no seeds. Peeling Kiyomi takes extra effort than unshu mandarins. Scientists created this selection in 1949. The identify comes from the Kiyomigata coast in Shizuoka Prefecture. These mandarins provide an ideal steadiness of candy and acidic flavors.

Amanatsu

Amanatsu, additionally referred to as “natsumikan” (summer season mandarin), is a big number of mikan, comparable in measurement to a grapefruit, round 9.5-10 cm. With a thick peel, it usually requires a knife to chop open, nevertheless it has a singular bittersweet taste. In style in Kyushu, locals additionally used amanatsu in desserts like Yobuko Yume Amanatsu Jelly.

Shiranui

Shiranui, a hybrid of the Kiyomi and Ponkan orange, is legendary for its distinctive bump on one finish and its candy taste. Measuring 7-9 cm, harvested between December and Could, reaching peak sweetness within the spring. Wealthy in vitamin C, Shiranui can be utilized in merchandise like orange liqueur, juice, and candies, making it a flexible and extremely sought-after fruit.

Hottest mandarin oranges grown in Japan

Wakayama Prefecture

Wakayama Prefecture is the most important producer of mikan in Japan, and the Arita area is especially well-known. The delicate local weather, lengthy hours of sunshine, and reasonable drought stress from July to August contribute to the sweetness of the mandarins. Arita mandarins have a excessive sugar content material and are fashionable all through Japan.

Ehime Prefecture

Ehime Prefecture is the second largest producer of mikan. The realm additionally has a light local weather and mineral-rich soil from the Seto Inland Sea, and greater than 40 styles of mikan are grown within the prefecture. Model-name oranges resembling “Beni Madonna” and “Kanpei” are particularly well-known.

Shizuoka Prefecture

Shizuoka Prefecture is the third largest producer of mikan. In Shizuoka Prefecture, varieties resembling “Aoshima Unshu” and “Jutaro Unshu” are grown, that are characterised by their excessive sugar content material and low acidity. Shizuoka Prefecture’s mikan are characterised by their consuming high quality till early spring.

These prefectures have a light local weather, favorable sunshine hours, and nutrient-rich soil, all of which contribute to the top quality of mikan.

References:農林水産省

FAQ

When is the very best time for mikan?

In Japan, tangerines are usually in season from November to December, when shipments are excessive. Throughout this era, the sugar content material of mandarins will increase, and you’ll get pleasure from candy and juicy mandarins!

Can I eat the white a part of an orange?

The white half ، or “albedo” ، of the mandarin orange may be eaten. It’s also a nutritious half.

Takeaway

Via this text, readers can be taught concerning the significance of mikan in Japanese tradition, how locals develop them in particular areas underneath splendid circumstances, and the distinctive flavors that every selection provides. It gives a deeper understanding of mikan’s function in Japan’s citrus trade and its place in day by day life.

You’ll be able to check out different fruits in Japan beneath!