The clementine is a citrus hybrid that appeared in the late 19th Century in Albania. A hybrid between willowleaf mandarin orange (Citrus x deliciosa) and a sweet orange (Citrus sinensis), the skin is a deep orange in colour with a smooth appearance. Less acidic than other oranges, the oils of Citrus clementina contain mostly limonene, myrcene, linalool and pinene, along with many complex aromatics.
Named for Brother Marie-Clement Rodier in whose garden it arose, some sources indicate an earlier origin for the fruit, pointing to a similar fruit from China – but these have been shown to be distinct mandarin hybrids. Genetic analysis of the clementine has shown it to have originated from a cross between Citrus sinensis and the Mediterranean willowleaf mandarin Citrus deliciosa, consistent with an Algerian origin.
Typically, a seedless fruit, the clementine season runs from October through to January. Clementine is used in Tarquin's Cornish Tonquin Limited Edition Tonka Bean & Clementine Gin and Sibling Gin - Winter Edition Flavour. Its bright sunshine colour adds a touchy of winter sun to cocktails such as Campari Spritz, Clementine Collins and Clementine Martini.
