What does tangelo mean?
A tangelo is a citrus fruit belonging to a group of hybrids created by crossing mandarin oranges with grapefruits or pomelos. Its flesh is usually sweet with a balancing tartness, and its colour ranges from yellow to deep orange. Many varieties have loose rind, making them easier to peel and segment than grapefruit, although this varies by cultivar. In ordinary use, the word may refer either to a particular fruit, such as a Minneola tangelo, or collectively to citrus varieties with mandarin and grapefruit or pomelo ancestry. Tangelos are eaten fresh, squeezed for juice, or used in salads, desserts, preserves, and drinks. Their flavour can resemble that of mandarins, grapefruit, or both, but individual cultivars vary considerably. The word is especially useful when precise horticultural distinctions matter, since “tangerine,” “pomelo,” and “tangelo” are often confused despite describing related but distinct fruits.
nounA citrus fruit resembling a small orange or grapefruit, generally with loose skin and a sweet-tart flavour. The name is also applied to several hybrids produced by crossing mandarin oranges with grapefruits or pomelos.
- A citrus fruit with sweet-tart flesh, a yellow to orange rind, and a shape resembling an orange or small grapefruit.
- Any of various citrus hybrids descended from a cross between a mandarin orange and a grapefruit or pomelo.
"She peeled the tangelo and shared its sweet, brightly coloured segments with everyone at the table."
"Tangelo juice was unusually fragrant in the chilled fruit salad."
"The grower produces several varieties of tangelo, each with a distinctive balance of sweetness and acidity."
The standard plural is “tangeloes”; “tangelos” is also seen but is less usual in careful editorial usage.
"The market stall was piled with mandarins, grapefruits, and several varieties of tangeloes."
Its name literally combines the two fruits used to create it: tangerine and pomelo.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of tangelo
Tangelo was formed in the early 20th century by blending the names “tangerine” and “pomelo.” It was originally used for a citrus hybrid developed from a cross between a tangerine and a pomelo, and the name was later applied more broadly to related mandarin–grapefruit hybrids. The underlying word “tangerine” itself derives from Tangier, the Moroccan city associated with the fruit's early export trade.
How tangelo is actually used
The term is most common in horticulture, food retail, and culinary contexts. It refers to both the fruit and the broader group of mandarin–grapefruit or mandarin–pomelo hybrids.
Easily confused with tangelo
A tangerine is a type or close relative of the mandarin orange, whereas a tangelo is specifically a hybrid of a mandarin with a grapefruit or pomelo.
A pomelo is a large citrus fruit in its own right, while a tangelo combines mandarin and pomelo ancestry.