What Is a Clementine?
A clementine is the smallest of the mandarin oranges, or Citrus reticulata. The fruit is a slightly flattened sphere, about 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter. The glossy, deep orange peel is loose on the fruit, making it exceptionally easy to peel. Unlike its cousin the tangerine, the clementine has no seeds. In fact, a clementine with seeds is evidence that bees have been at work cross-pollinating the trees with other fruit. For this reason, serious efforts are made to segregate the clementine trees, keeping the fruit seedless. The clementine was given official cultivar status in 1902. It is named for Father Clément Rodier, an Algerian monk. As the story goes, Father Clément made the serendipitous discovery of a unique hybrid in the mandarin garden of his orphanage. Many believe, however, that the clementine originated earlier, in Asia, and eventually found its way to the Mediterranean region.
