Once upon a time in Corsica, the ancient Romans learned to grow citrus trees, collect and use their fruits for food. But only half a century ago such an exotic fruit as clementine came to the world.
Mandarin or orange?
Clementine is a hybrid of mandarin and orange. From a smaller relative, he took a shape (slightly flattened), from a larger one - a color, rich orange, sometimes almost red. And by itself it turned out to be much sweeter and juicier than other citrus fruits. Another difference from tangerines is that clementines have a large number of fairly large seeds. In some varieties - up to 12 seeds per fruit. Speaking of varieties. There are three of them, clementines are:
- Montreal (ripen in October);
-Spanish (the most numerous among the imported ones);
-Corsican (orange-red, have no seeds inside).
It is the Corsican clementines that are considered the best, because in addition to enveloping sweetness, they have a rich citrus aroma. Such "fragrance" is given to them by a large amount of essential oils contained in a thin, but dense, smooth skin. By the way, the skin of clementines should be shiny, less loose than that of tangerines.
What are they used for?
Clementines are actively used by the world's leading chefs for preparing all kinds of desserts and pastries: mousses, jellies, cakes, rolls, pastries, jams. Among the dishes of Mediterranean cuisine, there are also salads, sauces and drinks made from juicy clementines. For example, sangria, liqueurs, brandy cannot do without fragrant slices of this citrus.
But for culinary delights to be of truly outstanding quality and, accordingly, taste, it is necessary to choose the right fruit. It is better to pay attention to those citruses that are sold with twigs and leaves. Fresh and juicy clementine leaves should have a rich green color and not necessarily dry.
To keep fruits fresh for longer, do not store them in plastic. Better to put in a container and refrigerate. The best temperature for them is around + 5 ° C with high humidity.
What's hidden under the skin?
The composition of clementines includes a huge amount of vitamins that fight for the vitality of the body and raise immunity. Ascorbic acid, potassium and titanium also help maintain health and youth.
Benefit and harm
Mainly, clementines normalize digestion, but are contraindicated for those who suffer from exacerbation of gastritis or ulcers. Clementines prolong the youthfulness of hair and skin, fight depression and relieve insomnia, support colds and flu. But, unfortunately, allergy sufferers cannot get carried away with them. Although in moderate doses, clementine is perfect for everyone, even the most refined table.
