Kobayashi mikan facts for kids

The Kobayashi mikan is a special type of citrus fruit. It's a hybrid plant, meaning it's a mix of two different citrus trees. People grow it because its fruit is tasty and can be eaten.

What is a Kobayashi Mikan?

The Kobayashi mikan is a unique hybrid fruit. It was created by combining two other citrus plants: an amanatsu and a satsuma mandarin. This type of combination is called a graft hybrid. It's like taking parts of two different plants and joining them together to grow a new, combined plant.

Where Does it Grow?

This interesting fruit first came from Japan. It grows naturally there and is also farmed by people. You can also find Kobayashi mikan trees growing in California, in the United States.

Appearance and Taste of the Fruit

The fruit of the Kobayashi mikan is usually small to medium in size. It can be round or slightly flattened. Its skin is a bright or medium orange color. The skin is mostly smooth, but sometimes it can feel a little rough.

Inside, the fruit has dark orange flesh. It usually has some seeds. When you taste it, the flavor is often described as tart, which means it's a bit sour.

The Kobayashi Mikan Tree

The tree itself has many branches that grow close together. It forms a wide, rounded top, which is called a crown. The leaves on the tree are shaped like an oval. This fruit has been grown for more than 70 years!

Availability Today

Even though it's been around for a long time, the Kobayashi mikan is not sold in stores in the United States anymore.