Kinnow ~ A Love Story

"kinnow is grown widely in Pakistan. For its outstanding quality, taste, and health benefits, Kinnow mandarin Pakistan is demanded worldwide. Moreover, international merchants favor the Kinnow orange of Pakistan than other countries."
Bhandari

Generally known as oranges, the kinnow or mandarin are different from other varieties of oranges. Well, they are all cousins — distant & near but I prefer the former.

Pakistan's climate and soil create the perfect conditions for cultivating the finest Kinnow Mandarin, resulting in a superior taste compared to mandarins grown elsewhere. Unlike other countries producing sour Kinnow, Pakistan's mandarin is notably sweeter. (The friends and relatives living abroad have confirmed, same goes for mangoes — Well, they're my other crush, deserving their own epic love tale! Wait for summers).

Kinnowis a hybrid variety of mandarin orange. They differ a lot in flavour. Kinnow has an extra sour flavour, but it is juicier than orange, which is sweet.

Actually systematics and taxonomy of these varieties is complex due to species and hybrids. But for simplicity:

Orange, without more, could be one of any number of varieties of citrus including navel orange, blood orange malta, tangerine, acid-less orange, clementine, sweet lime (mosambi).

We have different local names here. But, I think you have gotten an idea from the description and picture above.

These can differ in taste, thickness of the peel, tightness of the peel, number of seeds, etc.

As I was exploring the information about my beloved kinnow variety, I came across this:

"Citrus is ranked in the 21st number in Pakistan about its production and areas. It is in demand as a processed and fresh Kinnow from Pakistan. In Pakistan, Punjab province is the main cultivation region. Punjab produced 95% of kinnow due to environmental and favorable conditions. Total production is 2 (per annum) on an area of 194,000 hectares... Now kinnow is the main export item and famous due to scented, soft and juicy content."
Source

And also this:

"Sargodha (Pakistan) is one of the regions where this citrus fruit cultivates at a high rate. About 80% of orange production in Pakistan is produced in Sargodha, Punjab. Sargodha kinnow is undoubtedly THE BEST".
Bhandari

I can affirm the aforementioned statement with certainty, especially when it comes to the unparalleled quality of Sargodha's kinnows. During my college days, I used to tutor a young girl, who, hailing from Sargodha, belonged to a family with vast orange farms. She was in grade 3 or 4 at the time. She pursued her education in the our city alongside her mother. There were occasions when her mother accompanied her.

On one such day, when the mother was waiting in the other room, I extended the offer of my exquisite kinnows/ oranges to her. To my astonishment, the next day, I received two crates filled with the most delectable kinnows I had ever laid eyes on. It was an unparalleled variety, a testament to the exceptional kinnows from Sargodha. Later, she shared that her family was one of the prominent kinnow exporters and owned an entire village (named after their family name) — attesting to their wealth, which incidentally was reflected in my tuition fees. 😉

From that point onward, I consistently received crates of oranges during the winter season. On one occasion, we were invited to visit their hometown. The daughter, my student, had showed an outstanding performance in her exams. This turned into a unique field trip for my entire class, accompanied by my parents and some teachers. There, amidst the orange groves, we had the opportunity to pick kinnows directly from the trees. The juiciness of those kinnows remains unrivaled, making it a taste I haven't forgotten. Later we visited their Haveli, and I was treated like a queen during the whole trip (totally unrelated but worth mentioning).

Believe me when I say that I'm currently relishing these delightful kinnows as I share this with you. While they may not match the sheer deliciousness of those gifted by my student, they certainly suffice. Winter holds a special place in my heart, especially the cherished moments spent with my mom under the sun on a charpai, devouring dozens of kinnows. It was our favorite hangout.

We would engage in endless conversations, and sometimes, I'd even prepare for exams while chatting with her. These moments form the core of my cherished winter memories. We would only retreat indoors when the sun lost its warmth, replaced by the chill of the evening. I still vividly recall our favorite spot, and my mom once shared that since I left home after marriage, she never sat there again.

Though not one to express emotions readily, she admitted that winter noons were never the same without me. There were times when I'd lie down in her lap, dozing off as we basked in the sunlight. Lunch was even served by her on the same charpai just outside our kitchen door. Those sunny days are etched in my memory with profound fondness.

In these sun-deprived winters, I found solace in savoring these delicacies in the warmth of my heater. Yet, my mind constantly wanders back to those winters, reminiscing about every detail. It dawned on me that I haven't called my mom in days, and it's high time I express my love for her.

I'm going to make that call now and tell her how much I love her. Our shared love for kinnows, a bond I inherited from her, has transformed into a beautiful love story. The care and affection with which she served me these fruits have etched enduring memories in my heart.

Finished those two kinnows, but noticed fewer seeds than expected. Perhaps I accidentally swallowed some while writing this. Here's to hoping no orange tree decides to sprout inside my belly – as much as I love them, I'm not ready for that level of commitment!

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P.S: You can search all the health benefits online. I can assure you there are many 😉