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Tangerines, (mandarin oranges), raw

Fruits Per 100 g · Per 100g serving

Tangerines, (mandarin oranges), raw is a fruit at 53.0 calories per 100g. It is a good source of Vitamin C, providing 30% of the Daily Value per 100g. This fruit is virtually fat-free. Fruits are naturally rich in vitamins, dietary fiber, and antioxidants. They are an important part of a balanced diet and contribute to daily micronutrient needs. Our database tracks 74 nutrients for this food, plus glycemic index, insulin index, polyphenol profile, environmental footprint data.

53.0
Calories
kcal
0.81
Protein
g
0.31
Fat
g
13.3
Carbs
g
1.8
Fiber
g

Top Nutrients

☀️
Vitamin C
26.7 mg
30% DV
💪
Carbohydrate
13.3 g
10% DV
☀️
Vitamin B6
0.08 mg
6% DV

Data for 74 of 150 tracked nutrients

Nutrient Fingerprint

How this food scores across key nutrient categories, as a percentage of the daily recommended value per 100 g. Based on USDA DRIs for adults.

Complete Nutrient Profile

Macronutrients 9
NutrientPer 100gUnitPer Serving% DV
Water SR85.2g
2%
Calories SR53.0kcal
Energy (kJ) SR223kj
Protein SR0.81g
1%
Total Fat SR0.31g
Carbohydrate SR13.3g
10%
Fiber SR1.8g
5%
Total Sugars SR10.6g
Ash SR0.38g
Minerals 10
NutrientPer 100gUnitPer Serving% DV
Calcium SR37.0mg
4%
Iron SR0.15mg
2%
Magnesium SR12.0mg
3%
Phosphorus SR20.0mg
3%
Potassium SR166mg
5%
Sodium SR2.0mg
0%
Zinc SR0.07mg
1%
Copper SR0.04mg
5%
Manganese SR0.04mg
2%
Selenium SR0.10µg
0%
Vitamins 26
NutrientPer 100gUnitPer Serving% DV
Vitamin A (RAE) SR34.0µg
4%
Vitamin A (IU) SR681IU
Retinol SR0µg
Beta-Carotene SR155µg
Alpha-Carotene SR101µg
Beta-Cryptoxanthin SR407µg
Lycopene SR0µg
Lutein + Zeaxanthin SR138µg
Vitamin C SR26.7mg
30%
Vitamin D SR0µg
Vitamin D (IU) SR0IU
Vitamin E SR0.20mg
1%
Vitamin K1 SR0µg
Vitamin K2 (MK-4) SR0µg
Thiamin (B1) SR0.06mg
5%
Riboflavin (B2) SR0.04mg
3%
Niacin (B3) SR0.38mg
2%
Pantothenic Acid (B5) SR0.22mg
4%
Vitamin B6 SR0.08mg
6%
Folate SR16.0µg
4%
Folic Acid SR0µg
Folate (food) SR16.0µg
Folate (DFE) SR16.0µg
Vitamin B12 SR0µg
Choline SR10.2mg
2%
Betaine SR0.10mg
Fatty Acids 8
NutrientPer 100gUnitPer Serving% DV
Saturated Fat SR0.04g
Monounsaturated Fat SR0.06g
Polyunsaturated Fat SR0.07g
Trans Fat SR0g
Cholesterol SR0mg
Omega-3 EPA SR0g
Omega-3 DPA SR0g
Omega-3 DHA SR0g
Amino Acids 18
NutrientPer 100gUnitPer Serving% DV
Tryptophan SR0.002g
Threonine SR0.02g
Isoleucine SR0.02g
Leucine SR0.03g
Lysine SR0.03g
Methionine SR0.002g
Cystine SR0.002g
Phenylalanine SR0.02g
Tyrosine SR0.01g
Valine SR0.02g
Arginine SR0.07g
Histidine SR0.01g
Alanine SR0.03g
Aspartic Acid SR0.13g
Glutamic Acid SR0.06g
Glycine SR0.02g
Proline SR0.07g
Serine SR0.03g
Other 3
NutrientPer 100gUnitPer Serving% DV
Caffeine SR0mg
Theobromine SR0mg
Alcohol SR0g

Nutrient Density Score

The NRF9.3 score measures overall nutritional quality per 100 kcal. It rewards 9 nutrients to encourage (protein, fiber, vitamins A, C, E, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium) and penalizes 3 to limit (saturated fat, added sugars, sodium). Higher is better; negative scores indicate the food is high in limit nutrients relative to its beneficial content.

99
NRF9.3 Score
Good · per 100 kcal
Poor (<0) Moderate Good Excellent (100+)

NRF9.3 index: Fulgoni et al. (2009), J Nutr 139(8). DVs based on FDA 2020 reference values.

Amino Acid Profile

Essential amino acid composition compared to the WHO/FAO adult reference pattern. The Amino Acid Score indicates protein quality — 100 means all essential amino acid requirements are met.

22
Amino Acid Score
Low
Met + Cys
Limiting Amino Acid
18
Amino Acids Tracked

Tip: The limiting amino acid is Met + Cys. Pair with grains, nuts, and seeds for a complete amino acid profile.

All Amino Acids (18)
Amino Acidg / 100gmg / g protein
Tryptophan0.0022.5
Threonine0.0219.8
Isoleucine0.0221.0
Leucine0.0334.6
Lysine0.0339.5
Methionine0.0022.5
Cystine0.0022.5
Phenylalanine0.0222.2
Tyrosine0.0118.5
Valine0.0225.9
Arginine0.0784.0
Histidine0.0113.6
Alanine0.0334.6
Aspartic Acid0.13159.3
Glutamic Acid0.0675.3
Glycine0.0223.5
Proline0.0791.4
Serine0.0340.7

How Cooking Changes Nutrients

Estimated percentage of each nutrient retained after cooking, based on USDA retention factors for the “Fresh Fruits” food category. Values of 100% mean no loss; lower values indicate nutrients lost to heat, water, or oxidation.

Key insights
Vitamin C loses up to 30% when sautéed. Baked retains 80%.
Folate loses up to 50% when sautéed. Baked retains 60%.

Source: USDA Table of Nutrient Retention Factors, Release 6 (2007). Retention values are category-level averages — actual retention depends on cooking time, temperature, and water volume.

USDA Retention Factors

Glycemic & Insulin Response

The Glycemic Index (GI) measures how quickly a food raises blood sugar on a 0–100 scale. The Insulin Index (II) measures the insulin response directly, which can differ from GI — notably, dairy and high-protein foods often trigger a higher insulin response than their GI suggests. White bread = 100 for both scales.

43
Glycemic Index
Low GI
5
Glycemic Load
Low GL (per 120g)
GI Scale 43
0 Low <55 Med High ≥70 100

GI data matched from: “Orange, raw” · ●●● high confidence

51
Insulin Index
Moderate Insulin Response
Insulin Index Scale 51
0 Low ≤30 Mod ≤60 High ≤100 120
GI Model ●● Estimated via GI-based regression (R²=0.78)

Source: International Tables of Glycemic Index (Sydney University, 2021) · Holt et al. 1997; Bao et al. 2016; Bell 2014

Polyphenols & Bioactive Compounds

Polyphenols are plant-derived compounds with antioxidant properties. Higher intake is associated with reduced cardiovascular risk and improved gut health.

56
Total Polyphenols
mg per 100g · Moderate
2
Polyphenol Classes
identified in this food
Flavonoids43 mg77%
Phenolic Acids13 mg23%

Processing Impact on Polyphenols

How common cooking methods affect polyphenol content in fruits. Retention % is relative to the raw/unprocessed food.

Best Method
Freezing
95% retained
Most Loss
Juicing
52% retained
🧊
Freezing95%
Excellent retention; flash-freezing preserves structure and polyp≈53 mg
☀️
Drying82%
Moderate heat degradation offset by concentration; sun-drying ret≈46 mg
🫕
Boiling68%
Significant leaching of water-soluble flavonoids into cooking wat≈38 mg
🔥
Baking/Roasting65%
Dry heat degrades anthocyanins more than other flavonoids≈36 mg
🥫
Canning55%
Prolonged thermal treatment and water contact cause significant l≈31 mg
🧃
Juicing52%
Fiber-bound polyphenols lost with pulp; clear juices lose more th≈29 mg

Health Associations

Research-backed associations for the polyphenol classes found in this food. Evidence strength rated from systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

💜
↓ Cardiovascular disease riskModerate
Flavonoids: Meta-analyses of prospective cohorts show 10-20% lower CVD risk with higher flav
💜
↓ Blood pressureModerate
Flavonoids: RCTs show modest systolic BP reductions (2-5 mmHg) with flavanol-rich cocoa and
🔵
↑ Antioxidant capacityStrong
Phenolic Acids: Chlorogenic acid (coffee) and ferulic acid (grains) show consistent antioxidant
🔵
↑ Glucose metabolismModerate
Phenolic Acids: Chlorogenic acid may slow glucose absorption and improve insulin sensitivity
⚠ Most evidence is from observational studies and in vitro research. Randomized controlled trials are limited. Individual responses vary based on gut microbiome, genetics, and overall diet. Associations do not prove causation.

Polyphenol data matched from: “Orange, raw” · ●●● high confidence

Source: Phenol-Explorer 3.6 (INRA, 2023) · Retention: Rothwell 2013, Palermo 2014 · Health: Del Bo' 2019, Grosso 2017

Environmental Impact

Environmental footprint per kilogram of food produced. Data represents the global average for the “Citrus Fruit” category.

0.39
kg CO₂e / kg
Very Low Impact
0.71
m² land / kg
Land Use
83.0
L water / kg
Water Use
3.0
g SO₂e / kg
Acidification
How this compares (GHG emissions)
Potatoes (0.5)Chicken (9.9)Beef (99.5)
Greenhouse Gas Emissions0.39 kg CO₂e / kg
Land Use0.71 m² / kg
Water Use83.0 L / kg
Eutrophication3.1 g PO₄e / kg
Acidification3.0 g SO₂e / kg
⚠️ Important context about this data
  • Global averages: These figures are production-weighted averages from a meta-analysis of ~38,700 farms across 119 countries (Poore & Nemecek, 2018). Actual impact varies enormously by farming method, geography, and supply chain.
  • System boundary: Cradle-to-retail only — does not include consumer transport, home cooking energy, or food waste.
  • Soil carbon not included: This data does not account for soil carbon sequestration. Some argue that well-managed regenerative grazing partially offsets ruminant emissions; however, full lifecycle accounting — including methane, land-use change, and the opportunity cost of using land for grazing vs. reforestation — typically makes the net footprint of ruminant meat higher, not lower. This is especially relevant in temperate grassland regions like Ireland.
  • Not gospel: This data is informational and illustrative. It is useful for understanding relative magnitudes, but should not be treated as precise measurements for any individual product or farm.

Source: Poore & Nemecek (2018), Science 360(6392). Meta-analysis of ~38,700 farms, 119 countries, 46 product categories.

Global Supply: Fruits

Top 10 countries by per capita supply of the “Fruits” food group (kcal/capita/day, 2023). This is food group–level data from FAO Food Balance Sheets, not specific to this individual food.

1.
618
2.
424
3.
422
4.
416
5.
366
6.
352
7.
317
8.
308
9.
293
10.
286

Global Supply Trend (1961–2023)

+38%
1961: 93 kcal2023: 128 kcal

Source: FAO Food Balance Sheets (2023). Supply = production + imports − exports − waste, converted to kcal/capita/day.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many calories are in Tangerines, (mandarin oranges), raw?

Tangerines, (mandarin oranges), raw contains 53.0 kcal per 100 grams, making it a low-calorie food. The energy comes from 0.81g of protein (6% of calories), 0.31g of fat (5%), and 13.3g of carbohydrates (101%). Carbohydrates are the primary energy source.

What is Tangerines, (mandarin oranges), raw most nutritious for?

The standout nutrient in Tangerines, (mandarin oranges), raw is Vitamin C, providing 26.7 mg per 100g (30% of the Daily Value). It is also a notable source of Carbohydrate (10% DV). Our database tracks 74 individual nutrients for this food, allowing detailed comparison across vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and fatty acids.

Is Tangerines, (mandarin oranges), raw high in protein?

At 0.81g per 100 grams, Tangerines, (mandarin oranges), raw is not a significant source of protein. Pair with protein-rich foods like legumes, meat, fish, or dairy to meet daily protein needs.

How much fiber is in Tangerines, (mandarin oranges), raw?

Tangerines, (mandarin oranges), raw contains 1.8g of fiber per 100 grams, which is a small amount. To increase fiber intake, consider pairing with high-fiber foods such as legumes, whole grains, or vegetables.

What is the glycemic index of Tangerines, (mandarin oranges), raw?

Tangerines, (mandarin oranges), raw has a glycemic index of 43, which is classified as low (≤55). Low-GI foods cause a slower, more gradual rise in blood sugar levels, which may be beneficial for blood sugar management. The glycemic load, which accounts for typical serving size, provides additional context for real-world blood sugar impact.

Does Tangerines, (mandarin oranges), raw contain polyphenols?

Yes, Tangerines, (mandarin oranges), raw contains approximately 56.0 mg of polyphenols per 100g, primarily from the moderate class. Polyphenols are bioactive plant compounds associated with antioxidant properties. Their retention can vary with cooking and processing methods — see the processing impact section above for details.

What is the insulin index of Tangerines, (mandarin oranges), raw?

Tangerines, (mandarin oranges), raw has a moderate insulin response (II: 51) (estimated from macronutrient composition) on the insulin index scale (white bread = 100). This is a typical insulin response for most mixed foods. Note that the insulin index can differ substantially from the glycemic index — dairy products and high-protein foods often have higher insulin responses than their GI would suggest.