What are the differences between a tangerine and a satsuma?

The tangerine and the Satsuma are both part of the mandarin family, with the only differences being the color and amount of seeds. The Satsuma mandarin is the one canned and prepackaged in grocery stores as mandarin oranges.

Tangerines are reddish orange and much brighter than a Satsuma. However, there are some yellow mandarin varieties marketed as tangerines. Outside of the United States, the term tangerine is rarely used.

Satsumas are regular orange-colored mandarins that have a flat shape and no seeds. They are grown primarily in Japan, and although oranges are considered a tropical citrus fruit, the Satsuma tree is cold hardy.