Mandarin oranges are varieties of citrus fruits, as large as oranges with high sugar content. It is cultivated in Jeju-do of Korea, among which, hallabong and cheonhyehyang are the most representative Jeju citrus. Mandarin oranges are called mangam in Korean which means it ripens relatively later than common citrus. Most mandarin oranges are grown in vinyl greenhouses and are more expensive than general citrus. In recent years, the United States, the producer of oranges, are importing this particular variety recognizing its commercial value. Above all, it is excellent in storage and can be exported anywhere in the world. Hereby, we present Korea’s special citrus, mandarin oranges.

#Named after Hallasan Mountain, Hallabong
Hallabong is a winter fruit that symbolizes Jeju-do, which was farmed since 1997. As its name suggests, the shape of the stalk end resembles the peak of Hallasan Mountain in Jeju-do. It is similar in size and shape to oranges, but it has rougher surface and higher sugar content. The soft and juicy flesh is also another feature. Hallabong is rich in carotenoids, the antioxidants, and is good for anti-aging by removing harmful active oxygen. In addition, it is a great source of vitamin C, so it has excellent effects in skin care and cold prevention. Compared to other citrus of the varieties, the rind is thicker but it peels rather easily by hand.

*Additional info
Remember one thing when selecting Hallabong: the thinner the skin, the higher the sugar content. So it’s always worthy to check the thickness of the fruit. If the rind is raised or wrinkled, it may have a strong sour taste or low in sweetness. Hallabong is mainly consumed fresh without being processed or cooked. After cleansing the surface of the skin with salt, rinse it under running water and peel it off to eat. As a matter of fact, the peel can be made into tea. Wipe the peel thoroughly with salt water or vinegar and leave it dry. After drying, put it in a glass bottle with sugar at 1 to 1 ratio and age up to 15 days to complete Hallabong Peel Cheong.

#The scent of the heaven, Cheonhyehyang
Cheonhyehyang, grown in Jeju-do in the early 2000s, is a hybrid of oranges and tangerines, and is the latest variety developed after hallabong. The sweet juice that bursts in the mouth is exceptional with its thin rind and soft texture. It is particularly famous for its aromatic scent, so it’s called cheonhyehyang, meaning the scent of the heaven. With the flat oval shape like a tangerine, it is two to three times bigger, and is harvested in February to March. The fruit has good storage capacity and can be stored for about 2 months after harvesting at the end of March. Cheonhyehyang is more difficult to cultivate than hallabong, but recently there are more farmers who produce cheonhyehyang than hallabong.

*Additional info
Cheonhyehyang claims admirable in quality with thin and slick rind, and smooth skin pores. Similar to hallabong, cheonhyehyang is also rich in vitamin C as well as carotenoids. According to a joint study between the Rural Development Administration and Jeju National University, carotenoids have been shown to help suppress obesity, reduce cholesterol levels, and improve metabolic diseases such as anti-diabetes. While cheonhyehyang is generally eaten fresh, it is also enjoyed as a selection of dessert such as juice, shake, parfait, sorbet and other cafe beverages, or as a jam and marmalade served with bread.

#On-site/ Mandarin oranges pioneer the overseas markets
Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak in Jeju-do is one of the world’s best tourist destinations. Seongsan is also the largest producer of hallabong and cheonhyehyang, which are shipped to the United States every year through Seongsan Nonghyup. The finest quality of fruits are selected with sugar content of 12 Brix or more, and an acidity of 1.2% or less.

Kang Kuem-ran, manager of Seongsan Nonghyup, said, “We are pushing aggressive marketing to expand exports. In the first year, 13 tons of mandarin oranges were exported to the United States. Along with exports of mandarin oranges, cheonhyehyang were added, and the volume increased to 60 tons last year. While mostly sold at Korean grocery stores in the U.S, it remains as a steady-seller as it is palatable and easier to peel than oranges. Recently, export inquiries from Hong Kong and Russia are coming in, and we are working to diversify our exporting countries.”

The fruits maintain their freshness even in the United States despite their long delivery period of more than a month, as they have excellent storage capacity. As it can be stored for up to 3 months, it has the advantage of being able to ship anywhere in the world.
Currently, Seongsan Nonghyup is carrying out contract farming for U.S. exports, with 7 hallabong and 15 cheonhyehyang producers. As the business is getting successful, farmers who wish to sign a contract is on the rise. Oh Won-yong, the grower of hallabong and cheonhyehyang, said, “There are many people who visualize hallabong when it comes to Jeju-do. From the past, Seongsan hallabong has always been famous for its taste, as the soil and sunlight are suitable for cultivation of all mandarin oranges. To distribute to the United States, quality standards such as sugar content and acidity as well as pesticide residue inspection must be met. It is a lot of work for farmers, yet it is rewarding to export our fruits to the U.S., the leading producer of oranges.”
Oh added that cheonhyehyang has been shipped to the United States since last year and the possibility remains extremely high. He said, “The full-scale harvest takes place from the beginning of February to the end of March, and the cultivation area is expanding as the unit price is higher than hallabong. Cheonhyehyang has the good advantages of mandarin orange varieties: thinner rind, full of juice, and fragrant. I am very confident of the quality that it would be the first-rate in the world.”

Inquiries: Seongsan Nonghyupi.com
Tel: +82-64-780-3112
E-mail: ran923@nonghyup.com