Italian mandarins, varieties, territories and nutritional values

THE mandarins Italians are few and decreasing. In 2025 they occupied 8,964 hectares and produced around 147 thousand tonnes, 5.7% less than in 2006. In the same period the clementines they grew by 20.3%, up to approximately 644 thousand tonnes (ISTAT, 2026). Foreign trade confirms the trend: in 2025 Italy imported mandarins for 38 million euros and exported 7.2 million (MAECI, 2026).

Behind these numbers a vast varietal heritage is revealed which includes Avana, Tardivo di Ciaculli, satsumas of Japanese origin and the new seedless selections from public research. An in-depth analysis to follow.

Mandarins, clementines and hybrids, find your way through the names

The University of California, Riverside's collection of citrus varieties divides mandarins and their hybrids into five groups. They are clementines, satsumas, other mandarins, tangors and tangelos (University of California, Riverside, s.d.-a). Tangors are hybrids of mandarin and orange, tangelos of mandarin and grapefruit. Satsumas belong to the species Citrus unshiu (University of California, Riverside, n.d.-b).

Also the Tacle and the Mandared, obtained by crossing clementines and tetraploid Tarocco orange, are mandarin-like hybrids (ARSAC, s.d.). The clementines deserve separate treatment. This distinction also matters when comparing nutritional values ​​and research findings.

Production and foreign trade

According to ISTAT, between 2006 and 2025 the surface in mandarin fell by 8.3% and the production by 5.7%, while the yield per hectare it rose by 2.8% (ISTAT, 2026).

The foreign trade data from the Economic Observatory of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, processed on an ISTAT basis, distinguish several items between the small citrus fruits. The table shows only the values ​​in millions of euros of fresh or dry product. Clementines appear as a term of comparison.

Item, millions of euros	Exports 2024	Exports 2025	Imports 2024	Imports 2025
Mandarins, including tangerines, excluding clementines and satsumas	6,9	7,2	31	38
Satsuma	3,4	3,9	2,9	2,8
Wilking and similar hybrids	2,9	4,8	6,5	6,3
clementines	78	69	39	35

Source: MAECI Economic Observatory calculations on Istat data (MAECI, 2026). Provisional 2025 data.

In 2025, the deficit in the Italian trade balance of the mandarin category exceeded 30 million euros, with imports growing by around a quarter in a year. On clementines, however, Italy maintains a surplus of around 34 million (MAECI, 2026).

Traditional varieties and new selections

THE'Havana, or common mandarin, is aromatic and rich in seeds (Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry - MASAF, s.d.). The Late by Ciaculli was born in the 1940s from a spontaneous mutation of Havana, in the Palermo villages of Ciaculli and Croceverde Giardina. It ripens from January to March, has very few seeds, thin skin and sweet, juicy pulp (Slow Food Foundation, n.d.).

Variety	Characteristics	Maturation and context
Havana	Common Mandarin aromatic, with many seeds	Winter
Late by Ciaculli	Havana mutation of the 1940s; very few seeds, thin peel	January-March, in the Conca d'Oro of Palermo
Satsuma Miyagawa	Gemma mutation selected in Japan, introduced in 1923; seedless, peelable, early	October-December in Riverside
Satsuma Okitsu Wase	Born in 1940 from a Miyagawa seed; sweeter, ripens about a week earlier	October-December in Riverside
Ionian	CREA selection with aroma similar to Havana, seedless fruits	Earlier than the common mandarin
Mandalate	1989 triploid hybrid, Fortune × Avana tetraploid; fruits weighing 90-110 grams, easy to peel	Mid-February-mid-March in the Sibari Plain
Tacle	1980 triploid hybrid, Monreal × Tarocco tetraploid; pulp slightly pigmented	December-January in the Sibari Plain
Mandared	1985 triploid hybrid, Nules × Tarocco tetraploid; intense red pulp	Commercial maturity at the beginning of March in the Sibari Plain

Sources: ARSAC, s.d.; Caruso et al., 2026; Slow Food Foundation, n.d.; MASAF, n.d.; University of California, Riverside, s.d.-b, s.d.-c. The indications of the experimental fields are not valid as a calendar for all of Italy.

Where mandarins are grown in Italy

In Sicily mandarin is grown mainly in the surroundings of Catania and Palermo (MASAF, s.d.). The Conca d'Oro, the agricultural plain around Palermo, covered approximately 15 thousand hectares at its maximum extent. Over the last fifty years it has lost almost 80% of its cultivated land, under the pressure of urban expansion. Ciaculli and Croceverde Giardina, cultivated almost entirely with mandarins, retain a portion intact. The consortium that produces Tardivo brings together small farmers who own around 80 hectares (Slow Food Foundation, n.d.).

In Calabria, in the experimental demonstration center of Mirto, in the Sibari Plain, ARSAC, the regional company for the development of Calabrian agriculture, compares the varieties with the citrus research center of Acireale. Evidence indicates that mandarin-like without seeds can extend until March season of collection. These hybrids do not induce seeds in neighboring Common Clementines and can therefore partially replace a variety that concentrates too much production in a few weeks (ARSAC, n.d.).

In Sardinia, Muravera is the main citrus growing center on the island. In the Flumendosa valley, oranges, clementines, lemons and mandarins are grown, protagonists of the May citrus fruit festival since 1961 (Autonomous Region of Sardinia, n.d.).

Mandarins, CREA nutritional values

The CREA food composition tables report an edible portion of 80% and a portion of 150 grams for 'Mandarins, fresh' (CREA, 2019).

Component	Per 100 g	Per portion of 150 g
Energy	317 kJ, 76 kcal	478 kJ, 114 kcal
Fats	0.3g	0.5g
of which saturated fatty acids	n.d.	n.d.
Carbohydrates	17.6g	26.4g
of which sugars	17.6g	26.4g
Fibers	1.7g	2.6g
Proteins	0.9g	1.4g
Salt	0g	0g
Vitamin C	42 mg, 52.5% NRV	63 mg, 78.8% NRV
Folates	38 µg, 19% VNR	57 µg, 28.5% VNR

Source: CREA, Food composition tables, code 008060, updated December 2019. Salt calculated from sodium, equal to 1 mg per 100 g. Percentages calculated on the nutritional reference values ​​referred to in Annex XIII to Regulation (EU) no. 1169/2011. n.d.: data not available.

The micronutrient contents indicated above - where verified by analysis on representative product samples - may allow nutritional indications to be reported on the label and advertising of mandarins. ‘rich in vitamin C‘ And ‘source of folate‘ (EC reg. 1924/2006, Annex), in addition to the authorized health claims associated with it (EU reg. 432/2012). The other minerals and vitamins cannot be mentioned as they remain below the threshold of 15% of the reference values.

The data sheet concerns fresh mandarin in general and not clementines, Tacle or Mandared, whose nutritional values ​​must be measured through specific analyses.

Clinical and agronomic research

THE carotenoids they are pigments present in fruit and vegetables. A meta-analysis of prospective studies evaluated six carotenoids, including β-cryptoxanthin, for the risk of type 2 diabetes. Higher intake and higher blood levels of total carotenoids, particularly β-carotene, were associated with a lower risk (Jiang et al., 2021). These are observational associations: they do not demonstrate that taking mandarins contributes to the prevention of diabetes. The same authors call for further studies to verify the causal link and the role of individual foods (Jiang et al., 2021).

Italian agronomic research instead focuses on varietal improvement. CREA works on mandarins that are more resistant to diseases, such as brown spot caused by Alternaria alternata, more productive, easy to peel and seedless (Caruso et al., 2026). In red mandarins, anthocyanins accumulate from mid-December with the cold. However, milder winters reduce its synthesis. For this reason, CREA has selected hybrids that color as early as mid-November, with maturation anticipated by about a month compared to current pigmented varieties (Caruso et al., 2026).

Biodiversity to be recognized, even at the market

Avana, Tardivo di Ciaculli, satsumas and new hybrids differ in aroma, seeds, peelability and season. Asking for variety and place of cultivation helps to orient yourself, even more so when four out of five mandarins in value come from abroad (MAECI, 2026).

The choice of certified mandarins organic rewards the commitment of farmers who respect the highest standards of protection of ecosystems and biodiversity, as well as guaranteeing the possibility of using the peel in culinary and liqueur preparations.

The segments are suitable for fresh consumption, salads and desserts. Sicilian pastry chefs and ice cream makers prepare granitas, ice creams, jellies, juices, liqueurs and jams with Tardivo di Ciaculli. Thus the processed product is available all year round (Slow Food Foundation, n.d.).

Dario Dongo

References

Peer-reviewed scientific studies

Jiang, Y.-W., Sun, Z.-H., Tong, W.-W., Yang, K., Guo, K.-Q., Liu, G., & Pan, A. (2021). Dietary intake and circulating concentrations of carotenoids and risk of type 2 diabetes: A dose-response meta-analysis of prospective observational studies. Advances in Nutrition, 12(5), 1723–1733. https://doi.org/10.1093/advances/nmab048

Statistical and institutional sources

Regional Company for the Development of Calabrian Agriculture [ARSAC]. (s.d.). Mirto Experimental Demonstration Center: Citrus growing. Accessed 14 October 2026. https://www.arsacweb.it/mirto_agrumicoltura/

Caruso, M., Cortese, M., Russo, R., & Arlotta, C. (2026, May 30). New CREA/2 varieties: citrus fruits. CREATE Future. https://creafuturo.crea.gov.it/17216/

CREA, Food and Nutrition Research Center. (2019). Mandarins, fresh (code 008060). Food composition tables. https://www.alimentinutrizione.it/tabelle-nutrizionali/008060

National Institute of Statistics [ISTAT]. (2026, September 4). Agricultural and livestock production. Year 2025. Focus statistics. https://www.istat.it/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Focus_Produzioni-agricole-e-zootecniche_Anno-2025-rev-7-settembre.pdf

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation [MAECI], ​​Economic Observatory. (2026, April). Italian trade exchange in the citrus sector (based on Istat data; provisional 2025 data). https://www.infomercatiesteri.it/public/observatory/interscambio-commerciale-settoriale/Interscambio_Agrumicolo_%2010_04_2026_1775820144.pdf

Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry [MASAF]. (s.d.). Mandarin. Fruits and vegetables from A to Z, Fruit in schools. Accessed 14 October 2026. https://www.fruttanellescuole.gov.it/alunni/frutta-e-verdura-dalla-a-alla-z/mandarino

Autonomous Region of Sardinia. (s.d.). Muravera. SardiniaTourism. Accessed 14 October 2026. https://www.sardegnaturismo.it/it/esplora/muravera

University of California, Riverside. (s.d.-a). Mandarins and their hybrids. Givaudan Citrus Variety Collection. Accessed 14 October 2026. https://citrusvariety.ucr.edu/citrus-varieties/category-or-type/mandarins

University of California, Riverside. (s.d.-b). Miyagawa Satsuma mandarin. Givaudan Citrus Variety Collection. Accessed 14 October 2026. https://citrusvariety.ucr.edu/crc4074

University of California, Riverside. (s.d.-c). Okitsu Wase Satsuma mandarin. Givaudan Citrus Variety Collection. Accessed 14 October 2026. https://citrusvariety.ucr.edu/crc3820

Biodiversity

Slow Food Foundation. (s.d.). Late mandarin from Ciaculli. Slow Food Presidia. Accessed 14 October 2026. https://www.fondazioneslowfood.com/it/presidi-slow-food/mandarino-tardivo-di-ciaculli/

European Union regulatory sources

Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012 of 16 May 2012 establishing a list of permitted health claims made on foods, other than those referring to the reduction of disease risk and to children's development and health. Consolidated text: 08/20/2025. http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2012/432/2025-08-20

Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods. Consolidated text: 12/13/2014. http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2006/1924/2014-12-13

Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2011 on the provision of food information to consumers. Consolidated text: 04/01/2025. http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2011/1169/2025-04-01