(खासी नारंगी)
Khasi mandarin (Citrus reticulata) is a unique fruit cultivated in the Indian state of Meghalaya. The trees grow on steep slopes in chalky soil and in very hot climate. The villages, however, are located at the bottom of these steep valleys, so the villagers must carry the baskets filled with Khasi mandarins on foot across 5,000 to 10,000 stone steps, depending on the location of the trees.
The mandarins are somewhat larger than a tennis ball. They are bright orange in color, quite hard to peel, while on the inside, there is a sweet, aromatic juice. The fruits are traditionally harvested between November and February, and the villagers use a woven bamboo tool for collecting the mandarins, allowing them to gently pick the fruit without any damage.
The villagers also use their own saplings – once the mandarin seeds germinate, the saplings grow together for about 4 years, and are then transplanted while keeping a regulated distance between them. The trees follow a specific direction – for example, if most branches are facing east during the germination period, the same direction must be followed during plantation, otherwise the trees might not bear fruits, or they can even rot.
Interestingly, according to a local belief, Khasi mandarin possesses the ability to calm angry people, so it is often given as a present to make up for past offenses.
