Can I only buy it in season?
It is listed as Main harvest Oct–Feb. It is a year-round fruit, but volume and price can change with the season and variety. The calendar does not guarantee that it is on sale on any given day.
Thai Mandarin Orange
Tangerine · ส้มเขียวหวาน
If you see a citrus fruit with green rind in Thailand, do not assume it is unripe from the color alone. The rind and the taste of a mandarin orange differ by variety. It is easy to peel by hand and eat segment by segment, which makes it a good fruit to share on a 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 harvest Oct–Feb
Listed as available year-round
Nan golden orange: harvest listed for Nov–Dec
Use the main harvest period, or the harvest window for a regional fruit, as a guide. Actual availability can change with growing region, variety and weather.
What does it taste like?
You enjoy the sweetness and tartness of citrus together. The taste differs with the variety and ripeness, and the flesh may have seeds.
Why this fruit is known in Thailand
Thailand has several mandarin orange varieties. Golden orange of Nan is introduced as a regional GI fruit for its green rind and sweet-tart taste.
Buying basics
- Thai name
- ส้มเขียวหวาน
- Harvest period
- Main harvest Oct–Feb
- Regional fruit
- Nan golden orange: harvest listed for Nov–Dec
- How to buy
- Compare per-kilogram prices that carry a variety and a size grade among the same grades. Besides the color of the rind, you can choose a fruit to eat right away together with the seller.
How to prepare and eat it
- Peel the rind and separate the segments to eat.
- If the variety has seeds, remove them as you eat.
- Look separately at products sold as juice and the per-kilogram price of whole fruit.
Price reference
Bangkok retail prices · October 14, 2026
These are prices by variety and grade surveyed by Thailand's Department of Internal Trade. They do not apply to every street vendor.
| Fruit and variety | Price | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Mandarin · Sai Nam Phueng (สายน้ำผึ้ง), grade 5 | 60–65 baht | 1 kg |
Keep the price of a bag or tray of cut fruit separate from the per-kilogram price of whole fruit. In this survey, bananas are priced per bunch.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare a per-kilogram price with a price per pack?
Compare per-kilogram prices that carry a variety and a size grade among the same grades. Besides the color of the rind, you can choose a fruit to eat right away together with the seller.
Keep exploring
Official sources and references
If you want to read more about the food and the regions behind it, these sources are a good place to start. Ingredients and recipes can vary from one restaurant to the next.
Sharing image credit: 4028mdk09 · CC BY-SA 3.0