Keraji Voss D14 Mandarin

Origin

Keraji Voss D14 is a remarkable selection of the Keraji mandarin tree (Citrus keraji), an ancestral citrus native to the island of Kikaijima, in southern Japan. The name Voss D14 refers to a selection made by European nurserymen to isolate individuals with superior hardiness and high taste quality among Keraji seedlings. The Keraji is a Japanese citrus grown for centuries in the southern islands of Japan for its multipurpose fruit: used green as a condiment similar to the sudachi, then eaten at maturity as an eating mandarin. Its remarkable hardiness, reaching 14°F (−10°C), makes it one of the hardiest mandarin trees grown in Europe. The leaves, highly aromatic with spicy notes, have also been valued in traditional Japanese cooking for centuries.

Tree description

A tree of moderate vigor, able to reach 10 to 13 ft (3 to 4 m) in the ground. The evergreen foliage is an intense green and very aromatic; the elliptical, slightly acuminate leaves give off a distinctive spicy fragrance when crushed. White flowering occurs in spring. Growth is moderate and steady, allowing controlled development in the garden.

Fruit quality

Small fruit, yellow at maturity, of about 1.8 oz (50 g). Still green, the fruit is tart and used as a condiment for its zest and juice with herbal, spicy notes, similar to the sudachi. At full maturity in November, it becomes milder and sweeter. The pulp is yellow-orange and the zest very aromatic. Contains a few seeds. The harvest period runs from September to November.

Flavor and ornamental interest

Keraji Voss D14 stands out for its dual gastronomic personality: used green in savory cooking (fish, broths, Asian sauces) for its juice and zest, it can also be enjoyed at maturity as an eating mandarin. Its highly aromatic leaves are prized in Japanese cooking, infused in soups or used as a wrapper for steaming. A refined ornamental tree with harmonious forms.