What is Mineola
Mineola is one of the most common varieties of the tangelo fruit, a hybrid of tangerine (a type of mandarin) and grapefruit. It is grown by crossing Dancy mandarin and Duncan grapefruit.
Externally, the Mineola fruit resembles a tangerine, but unlike it, Mineola is slightly elongated along the axis and has a larger size. The average size of the fruit is about 8-8.5 cm in width and 7.5 cm in height.
There is another difference between tangerine and mineola - the color and structure of the peel. Mineola's rind is strong, but also thin and easily peeled, colored a bright red-orange color.
In addition, the mixture of grapefruit and tangerine has a dome-shaped thickening at the top in the form of a bell up to 1.5 cm in size.
To make the description even more detailed, it is worth noting that inside the fruit there are from 10 to 12 segments with yellow-orange juicy pulp. One fruit can contain 7-12 seeds.
How to keep it fresh
High quality longan sold in Thai markets must meet the following requirements:
- sold in bunches;
- do not fall off the branches;
- have a dense skin without cracks or damage;
- have a sweet taste.
Before purchasing, it is recommended to try the fruit to assess its ripeness. If the pulp has a sour taste, this means that the fruit was picked in an unripe state.
Longan is a perishable product. It is possible to preserve its quality and freshness only for 3-4 days at room conditions and a temperature not exceeding 25˚C.
You can extend the shelf life of the fruit to 10 days in the refrigerator at a temperature not lower than 8˚C.
It is not recommended to freeze fruits, as they tend to lose their taste. In addition, after defrosting they acquire a gelatinous consistency. To delight yourself with the taste of the exotic all year round, there is a convenient method of processing - canning berries.
Where and how does it grow
The annual Mineola harvest in Florida continues to be harvested today. This is facilitated by the fertile soils and warm climate of the state. In addition to the USA, this hybrid is grown in China, Israel and Turkey, and in much larger volumes than in its historical homeland.
The Mineola tree is considered a subtropical evergreen bushy plant with an extensive crown and heavy, bright fruits. Under favorable conditions, it grows quite quickly and can reach a height of 5 meters. If you wish, you can grow a tangerine hybrid, including its variegated varieties, at home. In this case, the tree’s growth will reach 1.5-2 meters.
Mineola has long, dense, deep green leaves with pointed edges. During the flowering period, small white flowers bloom on the branches, completely covering the tree and filling the air around with a pleasant milky aroma. This citrus does not need pollinating assistants, but to achieve larger fruits, farmers use a technique such as tying inflorescences.
The fruits ripen late, but are stored for a long time and tolerate long-term transportation well. If you do not harvest from the tree in time, next year the fruit will be born with a more faded skin.
Description
Mineola (Minneola) is an evergreen tree; as a rule, it grows in a subtropical climate, like its ancestors. Plants of this type are bushy, with a spreading crown and a huge number of fruits. Young trees have green bark that turns brown over time. In a suitable climate, the tree can reach 4–5 meters in height. If you grow a tree at home, it will grow no more than 1.5 m.
photo of Mineola tree
Mineola leaves are elongated, large, and bright emerald green. During flowering, the trees are covered with milky buds with 5 narrow, long petals. The flowers have a very delicate aroma. On mature trees, the buds form numerous inflorescences. The trees are self-pollinating, but to obtain large fruits, it is necessary to tie them.
Mineola fruits look more like oranges than tangerines. Due to the presence of grapefruit genes, they are very large - up to 8 cm in diameter. The peel of the fruit is dense, but not very thick. The skin color is juicy, bright orange, with a slight red tint. A characteristic property of mineola is that on the top of the head there is a thickening approximately 1 cm high, forming a hemisphere. Therefore, in shape, the fruit looks like a bell.
The fruit has a thick citrus smell. The pulp is juicy yellow-orange in color. Taste qualities are taken from two mother species: the comfortable sweetness of tangerine is combined with the light sourness of grapefruit. Due to the dense peel, the fruit is perfectly preserved and can withstand long-term transportation. Another advantage of the hybrid is its unpretentiousness. The trees adapt well to cooler climates.
Mineola tastes
The sweet and sour pulp of Mineola is similar to other hybrid citrus fruits, such as the clementine (a mixture of orange and tangerine) from Morocco or Spain, but has its own distinctive characteristics. It tastes juicier, and due to the thinner milky skin between the slices than grapefruits and tangerines, it literally melts in your mouth.
The aroma of Mineola tangerine combines orange, tangerine and grapefruit notes.
Difficulties in growing mineola at home
Among the problems that may arise when growing this representative of citrus fruits, the following can be noted:
- The falling of leaves occurs due to too little air humidity, even when the root collar of the tree was very deeply buried during picking. The crop may also lack potassium in the soil.
- Due to a cool draft or lack of light, or when the soil in the pot is waterlogged, Mineola also loses its foliage.
- Yellowing of leaf blades occurs due to a lack of nitrogen substances.
- Also, if there is a lack of iron in fertilizers and soil, the leaves may shrink and the veins will turn green - chlorosis begins.
- A very cramped pot or insufficient lighting will cause the crop to turn yellow in the foliage.
- If the top of the leaf has turned brown and dried out, then the cause is waterlogged soil or very dry air in the room.
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Composition, nutritional value, calorie content
Despite the presence of sugar in its composition, according to the ratio of BJU, mineol is considered a dietary product. In moderation, this product is allowed during weight loss diets.
Nutritional value per 100 grams is determined from the following indicators:
- Proteins – 0.5 grams;
- Fats – practically absent;
- Carbohydrates – 9-11 grams;
- Water – 84 grams;
- Calorie content – 40-44 kcal.
Taking into account the fact that the average weight of one fruit is 200-300 grams, when eaten, a person receives about 100 calories.
The vitamin and mineral composition of this citrus is quite rich. 100 grams of pulp contains up to 80% of a person’s daily need for folic acid. Other beneficial components of the fruit are carotene, lutein, B vitamins, xanthine, ascorbic acid, peptin, flavonoids, as well as calcium, iron and potassium.
Vitamin salad with mineola
You can diversify your holiday table with a great fruit salad, which, among other things, will help saturate your body with vitamins and minerals.
We prepare the necessary components:
- maniola – 5 pcs.;
- grapes - 1 medium bunch;
- green apples – 3 pcs.;
- low-fat sour cream or yogurt – 4-5 tbsp. l.;
- strawberry syrup – 30 ml;
- lemon juice – 20 ml.
How to properly prepare a vitamin salad?
Maniola and apples are peeled. The grapes are washed, dried, large fruits are cut into halves and placed in a salad bowl, maniola slices and apples cut into cubes are added. After preparing the fruit, start preparing the sauce. In a deep plate, mix sour cream (yogurt), strawberry syrup and lemon juice. Lightly beat and pour over the fruits in the salad bowl and mix. If desired, you can add a little sugar. Decorate the salad with mint sprigs.
Useful properties of mineola
The nutrients that make up citrus help a person actively resist negative environmental factors in a number of areas:
- prevention of vision problems;
- combating oxidative reactions in the body due to the effects of free radicals;
- minimizing the risk of seasonal diseases of viral and bacterial origin;
- cell protection and restoration;
- regulation of hormonal levels in women, improvement of fertility, support of the mother’s body during pregnancy;
- fight against lethargy and drowsiness.
Possible harm and contraindications
Like any other citrus, it contains many organic acids. Its juice contains substances that irritate the mucous membranes in the gastrointestinal tract, which increases the risk of ulcerative processes. In this regard, it is impossible to eat mineola in the stage of exacerbation of gastric and intestinal diseases.
Other categories of people for whom the fruit is contraindicated are diabetics and allergy sufferers. The most common allergic reactions include hives, itchy skin, rashes, fever, and stomach upset.
How to choose, store and eat mineola
Ripe fruit is the healthiest and tastiest, so it is not recommended to buy unripe, greenish, or too hard fruits. The ideal fruits to buy are firm, evenly colored, and deep orange. The beginning of deterioration of the product is indicated by dents on the peel and a cloying smell. But a lumpy surface, unevenness, thread-like inclusions with short dry sections are not a reason to refuse a purchase.
High-quality fruit can be stored for up to two weeks in the refrigerator. If the mineola was unripe when purchased, its shelf life can last up to a month. At room temperature, the freshness of the fruit will last 2-3 days.
Mineola is most often served as a refreshing dessert, sliced or in the form of a fruit salad. They also squeeze fresh juice out of it, prepare filling for muffins and pies, make jam, and make smoothies. Candied fruits and dried slices are used in the preparation of alcoholic liqueurs and cocktails.
The incredibly healthy Mineola is enjoyed by residents of various countries around the world. And although many consider it just a large tangerine, it is an extremely special fruit with its own bright taste and complex citrus aroma.
Agricultural technology for growing mineola
Mineola tree can be purchased at any flower shop. You can also grow it from a seed, and the technology is exactly the same as when growing a lemon or tangerine.
Lighting and location
Like all citrus fruits, the tree prefers a large amount of light, but from 12 to 16 it needs to be shaded. For this reason, you can place the tree pot on the windowsills on the east or west side. And in the south you will need to hang curtains or curtains or install a pot of mineola in the center of the room.
It is not advisable to use the northern sides of windows for placing trees, since there will not be enough light for the crop and special fluorescent lamps will need to be installed. In winter, be sure to provide the citrus with additional lighting. There should be at least 10 hours of daylight.
Content temperature
In spring and summer, the plant must be kept at a temperature of 18–22 degrees. But with the onset of autumn, the heat parameters must be gradually reduced, bringing the average daily air temperature to 15–18 degrees. This procedure is performed when the plant goes into a dormant period, this will allow it to rest after which it will bloom and bear fruit well. In winter, the temperature should not drop below 5–8 degrees Celsius. In spring, when there is no threat of frost, the tree can be given “air baths” by taking it outside; a garden or balcony will do.
Air humidity should be high, this is the only way Mineola feels great. To do this, from spring to autumn you need to spray the foliage of the tree with warm, soft water. Tap water should not be used, as white spots will remain on the leaves, and spraying with cold water is also undesirable.
Watering Mineola
From spring to autumn, the plant must be watered abundantly. It is necessary to ensure that the soil in the pot does not dry out, but it is not advisable to flood the crop. The signal for moisturizing will be the drying of the top layer of soil in the vessel.
For irrigation you need to use soft water at room temperature. It is very important that the water does not contain chlorine or lime impurities - hard water has a detrimental effect on plants. You can use river or rain water, sometimes distilled water is used, left for several days, or passed through a filter and boiled.
Fertilizing
Standard complex mineral fertilizers are suitable for mineola, but it is better to use special formulations for citrus crops. Starting from the end of winter (when the tree enters the active growth phase) and until autumn, they need to be applied 2 times a month. It is necessary that the composition contains phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen, they will have a good effect on the fertility of citrus.
With the onset of winter, fertilizing should be stopped, especially if the tree is stored at low temperatures; otherwise, the Mineola tree continues to be fertilized, but only once a month. You can also simply moisten the soil, and after a day, water it with fertilizer. Water the substance until it flows through the drain holes of the pot.
Replanting and soil selection
Young citrus trees must be replanted every year, fruit-bearing ones - once every 2-3 years, each time increasing the size of the pot in diameter by 4-6 cm. The soil for young crops should be of the following composition: turf soil - 2 parts, and leaf soil, sand and humus - 1 part each.
For crops older than 3 years old, turf soil must be taken in 3 parts, and other components - 1 each. When picking, it is very important that the root collar of the tree is at the same level as the soil. It is advisable not to disturb fairly large or old plantings by picking, but once every 2–3 years it is necessary to remove the top layer of soil in the pot and replace it with fresh fertile soil.
