Very useful in water soluble flavors
Mandarins are native to China and were introduced in Europe much later than the orange tree. Although usually consumed fresh, for oil extraction, the oil is extracted from the peel using a cold-pressed process. The volume of Mandarin processing is relatively small compared to Oranges and Lemons. Most Mediterranean country grows mandarin trees, but Italy and Brazil are the main producers of the essence. Per harvest, a mandarin tree on average provides 110 kg of fruit.
Brazil
dsm-firmenich mainly sources Brazilian Mandarin from Rio do Sul, in the south of Brazil. This region is still free of greening disease, with a small family farming system that provides high quality of oil.
Italy
Mandarin essential oil is sourced from dsm-firmenich's partner, a family-owned company for five generations. The production of mandarins mostly takes place in Sicily (around Palermo, Catania & Messina) and Calabria. Half of the production is used locally for table consumption and a third for extractions. dsm-firmenich’s partner is dedicated to preserving and growing a full range of Italian citruses, while protecting traditional knowledge and bringing innovation to extraction processes. The harvest is done manually, mainly in January, and production is around 250 MT of Essential oil.