Reikou facts for kids
Reikou (麗紅, reikō) is a special kind of citrus fruit, like a mix between an orange and a tangerine. It's a type of fruit called a tangor, which means it's a hybrid of a tangerine and an orange. Reikou was created by mixing two other citrus fruits: a hybrid of Kiyomi and Encore mandarin, with a Murcott tangor. Think of it like a new recipe made from different delicious ingredients!
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What Makes Reikou Special?
Reikou fruits are super easy to peel by hand, which makes them great for a snack! They are also very sweet, with a sugar content usually between 12% and 13%, and sometimes even reaching 15%. That's sweeter than many other citrus fruits!
Size and Color
Each Reikou fruit is quite big for a tangor, usually weighing around 210 grams (about 7.4 ounces). They have a beautiful reddish-orange color, making them look as good as they taste.
When to Find Reikou
These tasty fruits are ready to be picked in late January. So, if you're looking for a sweet and easy-to-eat citrus fruit in the winter, Reikou is a great choice!
How Reikou Grows
Reikou trees have a unique way of growing fruit. They don't produce their own pollen, which is needed for a plant to make seeds and fruit. This means that for a Reikou tree to grow fruit, it needs pollen from another type of citrus tree. It's like a team effort where different trees help each other out!
The Story Behind the Name
Reikou has a scientific name too: Kankitsu Kuchinotsu 32 Gō (カンキツ口之津32号). This name comes from Kuchinotsu, Nagasaki, a place in Japan where it was first created.
When Was Reikou Developed?
Scientists first created Reikou in 1984. It took many years of careful work before it was officially named in 2004 and registered as a new fruit variety in 2005. The very first Reikou fruits were sold to people in 2007, so it's a relatively new and exciting fruit!
