Can I only buy it in season?
It is listed as Main season October–February. It is harvested all year, but quantity and price can change with the season and the 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 skin in Thailand, you do not need to assume it is unripe just from the color. Mandarin oranges differ in skin and taste by variety. You can peel them by hand and eat them segment by segment, so they are worth choosing as a fruit to share simply 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 season October–February
Listed as harvested all year
Nan golden orange: harvest listed November–December
Use the main season, or the harvest period of a regional fruit, as a guide. Actual harvests can vary with the growing area, the variety and the weather.
What does it taste like?
You enjoy the sweetness and tartness of citrus together. The taste changes with the variety and how ripe it is, and the flesh may have seeds.
Why this fruit is known in Thailand
Thailand has several mandarin orange varieties. The golden orange of Nan is introduced as a regional GI fruit for its green skin and sweet-tart taste.
Basics to know before you buy
- Thai name
- ส้มเขียวหวาน
- Harvest period
- Main season October–February
- Regional fruit
- Nan golden orange: harvest listed November–December
- How to buy
- Compare per-kg prices that carry a variety and a size grade only within the same grade. It also helps to choose together with the seller, looking not only at the color of the skin but at whether the fruit is ready to eat right away.
How to prepare and eat it
- Peel the skin, split the segments and eat them.
- For varieties with seeds, take out the seeds as you eat.
- Look separately at products sold as juice and the per-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. They do not apply at every street stall.
| Fruit and variety | Price | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Mandarin orange · Sai Nam Phueng (สายน้ำผึ้ง), grade 5 | 60–65 baht | 1 kg |
Look separately at the price of a bag or tray of cut fruit and the per-kg price of whole fruit. Bananas are priced per bunch in this survey.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare a per-kg price with a price per tray?
Compare per-kg prices that carry a variety and a size grade only within the same grade. It also helps to choose together with the seller, looking not only at the color of the skin but at whether the fruit is ready to eat right away.
Keep exploring
Official sources
If you want to read more about the food and the regions behind it, these sources are a good next step. Ingredients and cooking methods can differ from one place to the next.
Sharing image credit: 4028mdk09 · CC BY-SA 3.0