Beloved Dekopon Mandarins have arrived in our produce departments from California! Enjoy these juicy, seedless, easy to peel, and exceptionally sweet treats while they’re in season.
In the 1970s a citrus grower in Japan decided to develop a fruit combining a mandarin, satsuma, and orange. It took over 30 years, but now this variety has become the most prized citrus fruit of Japan and Korea.
Zupan’s is excited to be partnering with Trinity Fruit, a family-owned grower in California producing Dekopon mandarins under the name Big Honeys.
Dekopons, roughly translated as “uneven” in Japanese, are distinct with a top bulb or knot on top of the fruit, making them look similar to the very cool, very big Japanese Sumo wrestlers with their distinct top-knot hairstyle. Although developed in Japan, Dekopons are now grown on family farms throughout the San Joaquin Valley in California.
Dekopon mandarins are large, easy to peel, seedless, juicy, and exceptionally sweet. If you gently squeeze it and the fruit gives a little, it means that the Dekopon is at its best and ready to eat. Try to peel this fruit in one piece. It should be easy and is characteristic of this fruit with its bumpy and loose rind. The Dekopon has very little albedo or rag (the white part of the citrus) which allows the fruit to be divided by sections easily with less of the white “netting” sticking to the fruit. And since the membranes covering each segment are very thin, the fruit has little bitterness and is easier to eat.
This healthy fruit is a good source of vitamin C, folate, potassium, and fiber. And it has no saturated fat, cholesterol or sodium. Try Dekopons anytime for a snack, in desserts, for breakfast, or in a salad.
