Kamalapazham

Kamalapazham, santara in Hindi, is the mandarin, the loose-skinned citrus that India calls orange. The Nagpur orange, Coorg orange, Darjeeling orange and Khasi mandarin are all mandarins, and kinnow from Punjab is a mandarin hybrid. Mandarin is one of the few ancestral citrus species, a parent of sweet orange and many others. It came from southern China.

Botanical name

Citrus reticulata Blanco

Family

Rutaceae

Tamil

Kamalapazham

Hindi

Santara

Sanskrit

Nāranga

Parts used

Fruit

Habit

Loose-skinned mandarin; the Nagpur orange

Last updated

2026-10-27

How to recognise Kamalapazham

It is a small evergreen tree, often thorny, with a dense crown.

The leaves are narrow and glossy, with narrow wings on the stalks.

Fragrant white flowers grow singly or in small groups.

The fruit is flattened at both ends, with thin, loose skin that peels easily, and segments that separate cleanly.

Sweet orange, mosambi, has tight skin that is hard to peel.

Most Indian mandarins have several seeds, and cross-pollination with other citrus nearby increases the count.

Traditional use of Kamalapazham

Kitchen

Mandarins are eaten fresh in winter and pressed into juice, and Nagpur makes orange barfi.

Indian food practice

Chinese medicine

Dried peel, chen pi, is aged for years and used in Chinese cooking and herbal practice.

Chinese food and herbal practice

Farming

Coorg mandarins grow as an intercrop in coffee estates.

Kodagu farm practice

Modern notes on Kamalapazham

Nagpur orange holds a geographical indication.

Mandarins are rich in vitamin C and beta-cryptoxanthin.

Citrus decline and greening disease have damaged mandarin orchards in Coorg and the north-east.

Kinnow was bred in California in 1915 from two mandarins and was introduced to Punjab in the 1950s, where it is now the main citrus.

Kamalapazham safety

Mandarins are a safe fruit. Wash them before peeling, since orchard sprays can stay on the skin.

Ecology and sourcing

Wild mandarins grow in the mountains of southern China.

Bees visit the fragrant flowers.

Fruit colour turns orange best where winter nights are cool.

Related plants

Also in Rutaceae

Questions about Kamalapazham

Is Nagpur orange a mandarin?

Yes.

Is kinnow a mandarin?

It is a mandarin hybrid.

How is Kamalapazham different from mosambi?

Mandarins peel easily; mosambi does not.

Where did mandarin come from?

Southern China.

What is chen pi?

Aged dried mandarin peel.

Why do some mandarins have many seeds?

Pollen from other citrus trees nearby increases seed numbers.

Sources

• Citrus reticulata Blanco — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
• Wikidata item Q125337 (Citrus reticulata)

Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.