Satsumas are a good sized fruit with a yellow-orange sunny-coloured firm skin. The fruit has no neck and are easily peeled and segmented. The fruits are quite heavy because of all their delectable juices inside. The fruits are seedless.

Satsumas are a variety of mandarin oranges, related to Tangerines, Clementines, Nova, etc. They are considered the juiciest of the family and have a balanced sweet-yet-tart flavour with high acid and sugar content.

Satsumas are believed to have been cultivated in Japan from material that came from China in the 1400’s. Satsumas later spread to China and the Mediterranean and other parts of the world.

They are nick named ‘Chrismas oranges’ in Britain where they were historically given out as a Chrismas treat.

In South Africa they are called Naartjies, from the Tamil word “Nartei” which means citrus.