how can I tell the different types of oranges, clementines etc?

[robgebs]

I am having trouble distinguishing the various different types of orange family citrus fruits. Obviously oranges are the largest but what features am I looking for for the others like Clementines, Tangerines, Satumas, Mandarins etc??

[kempie]

Not an easy answer because of how we name these fruit.

For example, if we concentrate (pun!) on the citrus named in the Q. we see that Mandarin is really Mandarin Orange, which is a subset of the orange family and that this subset includes classes called Satsuma and Tangerine (with Clementine being a Tangerine). Therefore

Clementine = type of Tangerine
Tangerine & Satsuma = type of Mandarin

If it helps any, Mandarins have thinner skins (easy peelers) in the general order

Tangerine → Clementine → Satsuma.

[redmug100]

Ckemantines are  smallest with tight skins - usually only seen around christmas. satsumers next biggest with a loose skin. Tangerine is a sort of large satsuma with thinner skin and a distinctive flavor. Manderin is skightly darker coulored skin sometimes with a 'nipple' near the top