What's the difference between tangerines and satsumas, etc?

tatty1
tatty1 Forum Participant Posts: 11
edited March 2014 in Food & Drink #1

I know this is very trivial, but it has bothered me a long time. What is the difference between a satsuma, a manderin, nectarine, and tangarine? There may also be another one in this family of alike fruit which I can't think of. But what is the difference?

I realise they are totally distinct from an orange. They all seem to peel reasonably easily, they are all smaller than an orange, they can be picked apart in segments without drips and mess, and they all taste exacly the same.

I don't think anyone could tell the difference if they were blindfolded, certainly in terms of taste.

With apples there are big differences in taste. Personally I like gala as they are always sweet and juicy. But some apples are crispy and tangy, etc.

But these tangerine-like fruits all taste pretty much exactly the same. Or am I wrong?