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"'Dekopon' is a highly sweet and expensive hybrid between ChungGyun mandarins and Ponkan that are grown in Japan and Korea, presumed to be first cultivated in the early 1990's. They have been increasingly common in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo.

"'Dekopon' fruit is quite distinctive due to its sweet taste, large size and to its quite large protruding bump on the top of the fruit. Its name is most likely derived from a Portmanteau between the kanji (deko; meaning 'uneven') as a reference to its protruding bump, and the 'Pon' in Ponkan (one of the fruits that it is derived from) to create 'Dekopon'.

"Due to both its size and sweetness, 'Dekopon' fruits are quite expensive. One fruit costs roughly Y750 (US'6.60). The fruits are usually grown in large greenhouses to keep them at a constant temperature, and are harvested during January (winter in Japan). After harvesting, 'Dekopon' fruits are usually left for a period of 20-40 days so that the levels of citric acid in the fruit lower while the sugar levels increase, to make a more appealing taste for the market.

"'Dekopon' fruits have become quite popular in Japan, with the chewing candy brand giant Hi-Chew even making a Dekopon flavour.

"There are many market names for 'Dekopon'. For instance, 'Dekopon' is the market name for the fruits originating from Kumamoto. The ones grown in Hiroshima are marketed as 'Kiyopon'. The ones grown and marketed in Korea are called 'Hallabong' named after Hallasan the mountain located in Jeju-do, where it is primarily grown.

"Brazilian farmers have succeeded in adapting the variety to tropical to temperate climate in the highlands of Sao Paulo state. The work is done by farmers of Japanese origins. 'Dekopon' is easily harvested from May to September. In the high season for 'Dekopon', each fruit costs around US' 0.50 at the Brazilian street market and supermarkets.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dekopon

(RR Krueger, 06/10/2017)

"'Dekopon' fruit is quite distinctive due to its sweet taste, large size and to its quite large protruding bump on the top of the fruit. Its name is most likely derived from a Portmanteau between the kanji (deko; meaning 'uneven') as a reference to its protruding bump, and the 'Pon' in Ponkan (one of the fruits that it is derived from) to create 'Dekopon'.

"Due to both its size and sweetness, 'Dekopon' fruits are quite expensive. One fruit costs roughly Y750 (US'6.60). The fruits are usually grown in large greenhouses to keep them at a constant temperature, and are harvested during January (winter in Japan). After harvesting, 'Dekopon' fruits are usually left for a period of 20-40 days so that the levels of citric acid in the fruit lower while the sugar levels increase, to make a more appealing taste for the market.

"'Dekopon' fruits have become quite popular in Japan, with the chewing candy brand giant Hi-Chew even making a Dekopon flavour.

"There are many market names for 'Dekopon'. For instance, 'Dekopon' is the market name for the fruits originating from Kumamoto. The ones grown in Hiroshima are marketed as 'Kiyopon'. The ones grown and marketed in Korea are called 'Hallabong' named after Hallasan the mountain located in Jeju-do, where it is primarily grown.

"Brazilian farmers have succeeded in adapting the variety to tropical to temperate climate in the highlands of Sao Paulo state. The work is done by farmers of Japanese origins. 'Dekopon' is easily harvested from May to September. In the high season for 'Dekopon', each fruit costs around US' 0.50 at the Brazilian street market and supermarkets.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dekopon

Note on IPR: This was originally imported as a proprietary introduction by B. Stark and J. Fisher. Permission was given on 10/22/2003 by B. Stark for inclusion of this in the Citrus Variety Collection (CVC). In August of 2006, Dr. T. Kahn, Curator of the CVC, received a communication from Mr. R. Smith, who informed her that rights to the 'Dekopon' had passed to Tree Source. After some discussion, Mr. Smith said that the 'Dekopon' could remaing in the field planting, but under no circumstances should it be distributed, looked at, or even thought about if at all possible. Since this renders it essentially dead to us, it was inactivated effective 08/01/2006. If for some bizarre reason, you simply must taste it, it is marketed under the name 'Sumo'. (RR Krueger, 01/2007)

It's baaack!

As a natural consequence of eagerly searching for a Satsuma-like citrus of a good looking and coming to the market a little later, Iyo attracted attention of growers especially in warmer countries where Satsuma cannot be stored satisfactorily until March-April season. It was first discovered in 1883 as a chance seedling tree in Abu-gun, Yamguchi prefecture and was introduced to the Citrus world by several leading horticulturists, finally calling attention of an Iyo nurseryman of Mochida, Matsuyama city, who propagated it and distributed it widely in the same province (Ehime Pref.). It was first called Anado in connection with its native prefecture, but then it became to be called "Iyo". It is a beautiful looking fruit, perhaps more attractive than the Santra of India...or any one of the tangors, but the quality of pulp is nothing better than the Naruto...and Sanbô...being subject to the change of flavor very soon after being picked. (Tanaka, 1961)

The Iyo is believed by Tanaka (1954) to be a natural tangor and was found about 1883 by M. Nakamura in Obu-gun, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. First described as Anado mikan in 1892, it was early introduced into Ehime (formerky Iyo) Prefecture, where it was widely planted and came to be known as Iyo. While attractive in appearance and of good flavor, it loses quality rapidly in storage and on the tree. As a result, it has been little planted in recent years. Currently, its culture is limited largely to the vicinity of the city of Matsuyama. Fruit medium-sized, subglobose to broadly obovoid, apical end shallowly depressed. Rind thick, lightly pitted, tender, and easily separable; deep orange-colkord. Medium seed content (some with pale green cotyledons). Central column broadly open and segments about 10. Flesh orange-colored; tender, very juicy, sweet; flavor rich and pleasant. Midseason in maturity. Tree vigorous. (Hodgson, 1967, p. 531)

Iyokan (C. iyo hort. ex Tanaka) was found in 1886 in a citrus orchard in Yamaguchi Prefecture and was first introduced into Ehime Prefecture, which was formerly called Iyo. It is apparently a tangor. The fruit are medium-large (200 - 300 g), can be easliy peeled,a nd are very fragrant. The segment membrane is not as thick as that of Natsumikan or Hassaku, but it is difficult to eat unless peeled. An early-maturing mutant, Miyauchi Iyokan was found in 1952, and since then plantings have been increasing. The fruits of Miyauchi have a thin skin and are seedless. Their eating quality is mcuh better than that of fruit of the common strain. In 1980, another mutant was found and called Ohtani Iyokan. Ohtani fruit have a smooth, reddish-colored skin and are very attractive. Iyokan is picked before January and is stored until shipment, which occurs from december to April with a peak in February - March. (Kitagawa and Kawada, 1986)

The fruit...is medium to large as compared with other tangors...round in shape...often slightly flattened and has a depressed area at the stem end...a most handsome and attractive fruit with a smooth or very slightly pebbled rind of deep orange colour [sic]...the rind ranges from moderately thick to chick, becoming puffy with age, and is very easily removed. The flavour [sic] is delicately sweet and free from bitterness and notably acidic...15 to 20 seeds per fruit. Most Iyokan are harvested in December then stored until marketed in the February to April period. Thereafter they become dry and rather insipid. Grown mainly in Ehime Prefecture...Iyokans are extremely popular in Japan...(Saunt, 2000)

I have nothing to add at this time except we have the Miyauchi Iyo selection and another standard Iyo selection. (R.R. Krueger, 2021-09-16)

Look! More information and great pictures from the U.C. Riverside Citrus Variety Collection.