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Clementine varieties: Comune, Nova, Tacle, Hernandina and more

By , agricultural technician · Azienda Agricola Salonna · Updated

In short

  • Early (October – early November): Caffin, Spinoso, Marisol.
  • Main season (November – December): Comune, the classic clementine, with selections such as SRA 63, and Nules.
  • Late (December – February): Tardivo and Hernandina.
  • Hybrids: Nova (clementine × Orlando tangelo), December to February, and Tacle (clementine × Tarocco orange), late December to January.
  • Seeds: almost all are seedless; they can have seeds if pollinated by other varieties nearby.

Clementine varieties compared

Indicative periods for southern Italy: they vary by area and by year.
VarietyTypeHarvest in ItalyCharacteristics
Caffinearlymid – late OctoberSmall-to-medium size, deep orange peel, good sweet-tart balance.
Spinosoearlymid October – early NovemberFlattened shape, 80–90 g, sweet and aromatic.
MarisolearlyOctober – NovemberEarly Spanish selection, valued because it opens the season.
Comunemain seasonmid November – DecemberThe classic and most widespread clementine: flattened, about 80 g, intense aroma, tender seedless flesh.
SRA 63main seasonNovember – mid JanuaryA virus-free selection of Comune, with more uniform fruit size.
Nules (Clemenules)main seasonNovember – DecemberSpanish variety with larger than average, very juicy fruit.
TardivolateDecember – JanuaryGood size, seedless; keeps its quality until February.
HernandinalateJanuary – mid FebruaryOrange peel often still green near the stem, sweet and mildly tart, few seeds.
NovahybridDecember – FebruaryClementine × Orlando tangelo: 100–180 g, thin deep-orange peel, juicy and tangier flesh. Few or no seeds.
Taclehybridlate December – JanuaryClementine × Tarocco orange: 140–160 g, bright orange flesh sometimes streaked with red, seedless.

Early clementines: from October

They open the season in mid-October. The most common are Caffin, the earliest of the traditional varieties, Spinoso and Marisol. In recent years even earlier Spanish selections have arrived, such as Prenules and Clemenrubi, picked from late September to early October. Early clementines often still have partly green peel: colour doesn't tell you whether the fruit is ripe, the balance of sugar and acidity does.

Main-season clementines: November and December

This is the time of Comune, the clementine par excellence: slightly flattened, thin peel, intense aroma and tender flesh. Alongside Comune, growers use its selections, such as SRA 63, and the Spanish Nules, with larger fruit. These are the clementines you find most easily in November and December, around Christmas.

Late clementines: January and February

They extend the season when the classic varieties finish. Tardivo is picked between December and January, Hernandina from January to mid-February: you can recognise it because the peel often stays green near the stem even when the fruit is ripe. Between February and early March you'll also find mandarin hybrids such as Mandalate, often sold as clementines.

Nova clementines: what they are and when to find them

Nova isn't strictly a clementine but a hybrid of clementine and Orlando tangelo (itself a grapefruit × mandarin cross). It was bred in Florida in the 1940s and in Spain it's also known as Clemenvilla.

  • When: December to February, peaking in January.
  • What it's like: larger than a classic clementine (100–180 g), thin deep-orange peel that comes off easily, very juicy flesh.
  • Flavour: bolder and slightly tangier than Comune.
  • Seeds: few or none if the tree is isolated; if other varieties flower nearby, cross-pollination can produce quite a few.

Tacle: the clementine × Tarocco orange cross

Tacle was bred in Sicily, at the citrus research centre in Acireale, by crossing the Monreal clementine with the Tarocco orange. It's larger than a clementine (140–160 g), seedless, with bright orange flesh that sometimes shows red streaks inherited from Tarocco. It's picked from late December to January and tastes sweet with a slightly tart edge, halfway between its parents.

Which varieties have seeds?

Almost all clementines are seedless because they can't be fertilised by their own pollen and the fruit develops anyway. Seeds appear when bees bring pollen from other compatible varieties: this happens above all with hybrids such as Nova. The exception is the Monreal clementine, which is self-fertile and almost always has seeds. You'll find the full explanation in our clementine guide.

Our clementines

In our groves in the Sibari plain, in Corigliano-Rossano, we grow the classic varieties most common in Calabria and pick them by hand from late October to January, only when your order arrives. You'll find the season of every fruit in our Calabrian citrus calendar.

Frequently asked questions

How many clementine varieties are there?

Dozens, counting varieties, selections and mutations. In Italy the most grown are Comune and its selections, together with Spinoso, Caffin, Marisol, Nules, Tardivo and Hernandina.

What's the difference between Comune and Nova clementines?

Comune is the classic clementine of November and December: smaller, sweet and fragrant. Nova is a hybrid that ripens later, from December to February: it's larger, with more colourful peel and a tangier taste.

Is the "mandarancio" a clementine variety?

No, "mandarancio" is a popular Italian name: it often means the clementine itself, sometimes other hybrids. We explain the differences in clementines or mandarins.

Which clementine ripens latest?

Among traditional clementines, Hernandina, picked until mid-February. Later still, between February and March, you'll find mandarin hybrids such as Mandalate.

About the author

Pietro Salonna · Agricultural technician

Pietro Salonna is an agricultural technician (perito agrario) and writes AgrumiShop's guides. He is the son of Andrea Salonna, farmer and owner of Azienda Agricola Salonna, which grows citrus fruit in Corigliano-Rossano, in the Sibari plain (Calabria): a family-run farm that has worked the land for three generations.