Mandarins in Australia are typically in season from autumn through winter into early spring, with peak sweetness and easy-peeling quality from late autumn through mid-winter.
Choose mandarins that feel heavy for their size with bright, firm skin. Avoid fruit with soft spots, mould, or shrivelled skin. A fresh citrus aroma is a good sign of flavour and ripeness. .
Mandarins originated in ancient China, once reserved for high-ranking royal officials called "Mandarins" — hence the name. Today they symbolize good fortune, wealth, and abundance during Lunar New Year.