Fruit eating qualities<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The size of the Satsuma mandarin is far larger than Kishu. A Satsuma is only a little smaller than an orange. A Kishu is very small, not much bigger than a golf ball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both are considered seedless, but I often find a single seed in a Satsuma whereas I can\u2019t remember ever finding a seed in a Kishu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both peel very easily, especially later in their seasons when their peels get \u201cbaggy.\u201d A Satsuma\u2019s peel is much thicker and bumpier than Kishu\u2019s though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once peeled, the Satsuma segments inside still have many strings and pith attached. It can take a little extra work to get those off if you don\u2019t like to eat them. However, Kishu segments are relatively clean once the peel is removed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here’s that photo again:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Eating a Kishu is a refined experience: the membrane around the segments is thin and the juice vesicles inside are imperceptible. The flavor is richly sweet although not remarkable. There\u2019s no tang, no extra anything to put your finger on. You can be patient and eat the fruit segment by segment or you can easily eat a whole Kishu in one or two bites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Eating a Satsuma is a meatier experience: there\u2019s plenty of membrane to chew on and fat juice vesicles to explode. The flavor is slightly more distinct than Kishu, and it is the same flavor as canned mandarins. It\u2019s nearly a full snack to eat a whole Satsuma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tree characteristics<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Kishu tree is smaller and bushier compared to the Satsuma. My Kishu is about six years old (planted from a five-gallon container) and is barely as tall as me. My Satsuma is a year younger and I’ve pruned it a bit, but it is already taller than me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both trees have produced well each year, but the Kishu has been a little more productive in terms of number of fruit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While the two varieties are early season mandarins, the Kishu fruit becomes palatable a bit ahead of the Satsuma fruit. My kids start eating the Kishus after Halloween although I don\u2019t find them appealing until closer to Christmas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At that time, I\u2019m lucky if I get any because the Kishu fruit is their favorite out of all of our citrus. It\u2019s easy for the kids to peel, and it\u2019s easy for them to chew, and the fruit is small enough for even a two-year old to finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Satsumas end up being my snack tree because the kids find it harder to peel, seedy (one seed in a fruit is “seedy,” they say!), and too big. This is all compared to the Kishus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Satsuma-and-Kishu-mandarins-unpeeled.jpg\")
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