On 16/02/18 14:03, Harry Bloomfield wrote:
For a few weeks, we have been buying regular small boxes of oranges
from the local coop, described as 'grade 1 easy peelers' - Spanish
mandarin.

Having a sweet tooth, I found them quiet juicy and sweet though not
entirely consistent even from the same box. The last box contents was
different, not so sweet, not so juicy and very pithy, not nice at all
so they were binned. The obvious difference was that they had a lump
where the stalk goes, bulging rather like nipple. Might that suggest
they had been picked too soon, or simply a different variety?

I think you are confusing oranges and mandarins/clementines.

I think what you are referring to is a "clemenule" - see fruit at upper
right in picture he
http://goodfruitguide.co.uk/product/clemenules/

There are so many varieties these days available in shops simply sold
under a big label which says "Clementines" (eg "Nadorcott") that if in a
net bag you need to look closely at the label on the bag to see what you
are actually buying!

--

Jeff