A Foodie’s Guide to Choosing Mandarin Oranges for Chinese New Year

Sweet? Juicy? Expensive? Overrated? Here’s how to tell your mandarins apart — before you buy the wrong box.

Every Chinese New Year, the same question comes up in shops, offices, and family WhatsApp chats:

“What’s the difference between all these oranges?”

Papagan, Lokam, Ponkam, Mikan, Hong Mei Ren, Beni Madonna, Pomelo… they all look festive, they’re all orange, and yet prices can range wildly.

This guide breaks down the most common Chinese New Year oranges, what they’re actually like, their Chinese names, and who they’re best for — so you don’t end up buying the wrong one for the wrong person.

🍊 Papagan (粑粑柑)

Also known as: Papa Gan

Papagan is one of the newer stars of Chinese New Year gifting. It’s known for being very sweet, almost dessert‑like, with soft flesh and minimal acidity.

What people love:

• High sweetness

• Easy to eat

• Crowd‑pleasing taste

What to know: Papagan is often chosen for gifting because it tastes impressive even to people who “don’t usually eat oranges”.

Best for:

• Client gifting

• Elders

• People who prefer sweet fruit

💡 If you want zero complaints, Papagan is usually a safe bet.

Check out our Papagan mandarin collection here

🍊 Lokam (芦柑 / 椪柑) 

Lokam is a classic Southeast Asian mandarin that many people grew up with.

What people love:

• Familiar taste

• Affordable

• Nostalgic

What to know: Lokam tends to be less juicy and slightly drier compared to premium Japanese or Chinese varieties. It’s straightforward and dependable.

Best for:

• Office distribution

• Large gatherings

• Traditional households

💡 Not fancy — but very recognisable.

🍊 Japanese Mikan (蜜柑 / みかん)

Mikan is Japan’s everyday mandarin — simple, seedless, and easy to peel.

What people love:

• Light, refreshing sweetness

• Easy snacking

What to know: Mikan is not meant to be dramatic. It’s gentle, refreshing, and familiar rather than bold.

Best for:

• Families with kids

• Casual gifting

• People who like lighter flavours

💡 Think “comfort orange”.

Check out our Sakura Mikan mandarin collection here

🍊 Hong Mei Ren (红美人橙)

Often described as the ‘jelly orange’, Hong Mei Ren is prized for its soft, juicy texture.

What people love:

• Extremely juicy

• Jelly‑like flesh

• Rich mouthfeel

What to know: Hong Mei Ren is delicate and best enjoyed fresh. It’s impressive when eaten immediately, less so if stored too long.

Best for:

• Premium gifting

• People who love juicy fruit

💡 This is the one people say “wah” to.

Check out our Red Beauty mandarin collection here

🍊Orange Pomelo

Sweet Pomelo Mandarin is a premium mandarin variety known for its large size, high juiciness, and clean, elegant sweetness. Despite the name, it is not a pomelo, but a high-grade mandarin with a refined, pomelo-like freshness.

What people love:

• Very juicy, plump flesh

• Large, impressive size

• Clean sweetness with low acidity

• Refreshing finish without bitterness

What to know:
This is a premium mandarin, closer in eating experience to high-end varieties. The “pomelo” reference describes the fresh, aromatic quality, not the fruit type. Best enjoyed fresh to appreciate its juiciness.

Best for:

• Premium gifting

• People who enjoy juicy, refreshing citrus

• Those who prefer elegance over overly sugary flavours

• Customers looking for something different from standard mandarins

💡 Think “premium, juicy mandarin with pomelo-like freshness”.

Check out our Orange Pomelo mandarin collection here

Mandarin & Citrus Comparison: Taste Profile Ratings (Seedless, Size, Juiciness & Sweetness)

If you’re searching online for which mandarin is sweeter, seedless mandarin oranges, or best mandarin oranges for Chinese New Year, this comparison table will help.

Below is a practical taste-profile rating of the most popular Chinese New Year mandarins and citrus fruits, based on eating experience rather than marketing labels.

⭐ Ratings are relative within this group (★★★★★ = highest in category)

🍊 Mandarin & Citrus Taste Comparison Table

So… Which One Should You Choose?

Here’s the cheat sheet:

• Safest crowd‑pleaser: Papagan (粑粑柑)

• Traditional & affordable: Lokam / Ponkam (芦柑 / 椪柑)

• Light & refreshing: Sakura Mikan (蜜柑)

• Juicy & impressive: Red Beauty Hong Mei Ren (红美人橙)

• Ultra‑premium: Sweet Orange Pomelo

If you’d like to compare these mandarins side-by-side in person, you’re welcome to visit Hello Daily (The Fruits Shop) in SS2. Seeing and tasting the difference often makes the choice much easier.