Can I not buy it out of season?
It is listed as Main season Oct–Feb. It is available all year round, but quantity and price can change with the season and variety. The calendar does not guarantee that the fruit is on sale on any given day.
Thai Mandarin Orange
Tangerine · ส้มเขียวหวาน
If you see a citrus fruit with green rind in Thailand, you need not think it is unripe just from its colour. The rind and taste of mandarin oranges differ by variety. Easy to peel by hand and eat segment by segment, it is a fruit worth choosing to share simply on your trip.
Citrus reticulata April 2013 Nordbaden · 4028mdk09 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Resized for display · Photo provided under CC BY-SA 3.0
When is the best time to eat it?
Main season Oct–Feb
Listed as available all year round
Golden orange of Nan: season listed as Nov–Dec
Use the main season, or the season of a regional fruit, as a guide. Actual availability can vary with growing area, variety and weather.
What does it taste like?
You enjoy the sweetness and acidity of citrus together. The taste differs with variety and ripeness, and the flesh can have seeds.
Why this fruit is known in Thailand
Thailand has several mandarin orange varieties. The golden orange of Nan is introduced among regional GI fruit for its green rind and sweet-sour taste.
Basics to know before you buy
- Thai name
- ส้มเขียวหวาน
- Season
- Main season Oct–Feb
- Regional fruit
- Golden orange of Nan: season listed as Nov–Dec
- How it is sold
- Compare kg prices that carry a variety and a size grade only within the same grade. Beyond the rind colour, you can also choose fruit to eat right away together with the seller.
How to peel and eat it
- Peel the rind and divide it into segments to eat.
- For a variety with seeds, take out the seeds as you eat.
- Look separately at the price of products sold as juice and the kg price of whole fruit.
Price reference
Bangkok retail prices · 14 October 2026
These are prices by variety and grade surveyed by Thailand's Department of Internal Trade. Not every street seller charges the same price.
| Fruit and variety | Price | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Mandarin · Sai Nam Phueng (สายน้ำผึ้ง), grade 5 | 60–65 baht | 1 kg |
Keep the price of a cut-fruit bag or tub separate from the per-kg price of whole fruit. In this survey, bananas are priced per bunch.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare a per-kg price with a per-pack price?
Compare kg prices that carry a variety and a size grade only within the same grade. Beyond the rind colour, you can also choose fruit to eat right away together with the seller.
Keep exploring
Official sources and references
If you want to read more about these dishes and regions, these sources are a good place to start. Ingredients and cooking methods can differ from one eatery to another.
Sharing image credit: 4028mdk09 · CC BY-SA 3.0