Tangerines

[patR]

For the first year since we pruned the tree hard we have Tangerines... millions... well probably hundreds....
We are eating them daily, juicing them manually and freezing the juice in icecube bags, but any other ideas... space is an issue...
I tried cooking with them but unless you painstakingly remove every tiny scrap of pith... they go terribly bitter as hell...

[Odsox]

You could try preserving them in salt.
Apparently the process also tenderises the peel and you can eat the lot.
It's something I've earmarked for next year when I get a glut of lemons from my new tree. This year I've got one fruit but next year I've got 30 - 40 coming and you can only eat so much marmalade and lemon meringue pies.

Also tangerine marmalade is good.

[Millymollymandy]

I guess giving away to the neighbours is out of the question? Do birds eat tangerines on the tree? If there's so many you don't know what to do with then if the local wildlife like them I suggest just leaving the windfalls/rest of them like I do with plums and windfall apples. But I don't know anything about growing citrus so don't know if birds go for that kind of thing.

[okra]

What about TANGERINE LIQUEUR

3 c 80 proof vodka
1 c Water
2 Dozen ripe tangerines
2 lb White sugar
1 Dozen whole cloves
1/2 ts Cinnamon
Wash and peel tangerines. Remove any large pieces of pith remaining on inside of peel. Section tangerines and then cut each section into two or three pieces. Put tangerine pieces and peel in a jar with vodka, water, cinnamon, and cloves. Add white sugar and shake vigorously until sugar is dissolved. Cover. Let mixture set for three weeks, then strain and let the liqueur settle until clear. This usually takes a week or ten days.

[patR]

Ooooh I like the liquer idea... I already make a fennel one in the spring, and a cherry one but hadnt thought of the tangerines... I have Aguadente instead of vodka though ... hmmmm
I already give to friends but most people here have some much citrus they dont want more..
I may try a little marmaladey stuff or jam but Im not keen on the bitterness...

[Milims]

Send some here - we love them!

[niknik]

out of interest. how long ago did you prune your tree? wondering whether to do a drastic one on my orange and mandarin.
The lemon however is rampant, and getsa yearly prune(If te branches don´t break first from the weight of the fruit!)

[patR]

Hi. We pruned it RADICALLY about 3 years ago, it was very big and seemed to have outgrown its strengh as what little fruit it bore were dry and tasteless, now we have tons and they are lovely...
Sadly my lemon tree is only just starting to recover after two horrible winters, we have about a doz lemons this year, when we first came here the tree was laden all the time...

[cocobelle]

Tangerinr Marmalade.
Or you could pickle them in booze, not sure what alcohol you'd use, but I tried his once - it was lovely!

[patR]

Thanks for the ideas, Im still juicing, but the windfalls have slowed down now. Ive also done some in aguadente with cloves and suger to make a liquer... OH tried it the other day and shuddered....
Oh well I think it needs a while longer yet...