Mass mandarin harvesting in Abkhazia will begin on November 10–15

The season begins in mid-November

Mass harvesting of mandarins in Abkhazia will begin on November 10–15, after which citrus supplies to Russian stores will gradually increase. The main pre-holiday season starts closer to the end of the month, reports URA.RU citing data from Abkhazia.

Why early mandarins may be sour

The first batches appear on shelves as early as October, but by early November the assortment remains limited. Some fruits are picked before they are fully ripe, so their taste may turn out more sour than buyers expect. Roskachestvo recommends taking a closer look at citrus fruits in mid-season: by November 20, the selection of fresh and ripe fruit should become noticeably wider, and the main flow of mandarins for the New Year's table traditionally falls in December.

Where mandarins come from and how varieties differ

Besides Abkhazia, citrus fruits are supplied to Russia from Turkey, China, South Africa, Egypt and Pakistan; small volumes are grown in Dagestan and Krasnodar Krai. Timing depends on the variety: sweet Chinese Shiva-Mikan mandarins start arriving in mid-November, Shatang Ju go on sale in the second half of December, while the Abkhazian Unshiu, familiar since Soviet times, is distinguished by its sweet-and-sour taste. In January the assortment is joined by Turkish Murcott — they can be recognized by their flattened shape, glossy dark-orange peel and pronounced sweetness. Thus, the season does not end with the holidays: thanks to supplies from different countries, citrus fruits are available all winter.

How to choose sweet fruit

Earlier, Life.ru asked Roskachestvo specialists how to choose sweet mandarins. According to their explanation, one should not rely only on the color of the peel: greenish fruits may turn out to be ripe, while bright orange coloring does not guarantee a sweet taste. Among the sweetest varieties, the experts named Murcott, Unshiu and clementines.