Olivier Poels 11:16 am, December 09, 2021
Do you know the difference between a tangerine and a clementine? The first is a citrus variety that comes from Asia (China or maybe the Philippines). It arrived in Europe in the 19th century and owes its name to its resemblance to the Chinese costumes of the Mandarins. The second is an accident of nature discovered at the end of the 19th century or at the beginning of the 20th century, by Father Clément - Vital Rodier of his real name -, near Oran, in Misserghin, in Algeria, while he was the nursery manager of an orphanage.
In the middle of the mandarin trees, we point out a slightly different tree with smaller, seedless and deliciously tart fruits.
What happened ?
Pollen from neighboring orange trees would have fertilized the flowers of a tangerine tree.
Father Clément launched production and this fruit was named “clementine” in his honor.
In France, it is in Corsica, where the climate is perfectly adapted, that one develops its production from 1925. It obtains an IGP in 2007. Season of the clementine: November to the beginning of January.
The candied clementine recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 kg of clementines
- 800 gr of sugar
- 20 cl of water
- 10 cl of rum
1. Cut the clementines into strips
2. In a saucepan, heat the fruit, water and sugar
3. Cook for 20 minutes over low heat
4. Leave to cool for 24 hours
5. Bake again 20 min
6. Repeat the operation a third and a fourth time
7. On the last day, add the rum at the end of cooking.
8. Pour into jars and leave in the fridge for at least 5 months.