Imperial vs Honey Murcott | Mandarins.com.au

Imperial and Honey Murcott are the two most common mandarins in Australian shops, but they are quite different. Imperial is the early season variety: easy to peel, lower in seeds, and available from April. Honey Murcott comes later, from July to October, with higher sweetness, higher juice content, and significantly more seeds.

The choice between them depends on when you are shopping and what you want from the fruit.

Season

Imperial is in season from April to June, with Queensland fruit arriving first and southern-grown fruit extending supply to July in some years. By August, Imperial supply is largely finished.

Honey Murcott starts in July and runs through to October. In some regions it is available into November. It is the main mandarin carrying supply through the back half of winter.

If you are shopping in May or June, you are buying Imperial. If you are shopping in August or September, you are buying Honey Murcott (or Afourer). There is limited overlap in July.

Peel

Imperial has a thin, smooth skin that is easy to peel, even for children. It loosens slightly as the fruit matures into late season, but peeling is always straightforward.

Honey Murcott has a tighter skin. It requires a bit more work to peel and is not quite as easy for young children. The trade-off is that the tighter skin helps the fruit hold longer after picking.

Seeds

Imperial has a low seed count, typically just a few seeds per fruit. Many are effectively seedless in practice.

Honey Murcott has a higher seed count, usually 10 to 20 seeds per fruit depending on the growing conditions and cross-pollination from nearby orchards. This is the main practical difference people notice at the table.

Flavour

Both varieties are sweet, but their flavour profiles differ.

Imperial has a sweet-tart balance with a clean citrus flavour. It is not as intensely sweet as Honey Murcott but has a brightness that suits snacking.

Honey Murcott is noticeably sweeter and more intensely flavoured. The “honey” in the name is an accurate descriptor. Juice content is higher and brix levels (the measure of sugar concentration) are among the highest of any commercial mandarin. Fruiterer Thanh Truong describes Honey Murcott as having “excellent flavour and juice” despite the seeds.

Best for lunchboxes

Imperial. The easy peel and low seed count make it the most practical lunchbox mandarin. It is the variety most associated with school lunches in Australia.

If you want a seedless lunchbox option later in the season, look for Afourer or supermarket-exclusive varieties such as Woolworths’ Amorette or Delite.

Best for juicing

Honey Murcott. Higher juice content and higher brix make it the better juicing mandarin. The seeds are an inconvenience when eating fresh but are not a problem when juicing. Afourer is also a good juicing variety.

Best for cooking

Honey Murcott works well in cooking where sweetness is an asset: mandarin marmalade, mandarin curd, mandarin cakes, and syrups. Its high sugar content means it produces a richer result in preserves.

Imperial zest is excellent in baking and savoury cooking. The peel is aromatic and the skin is easy to work with.

Best for storage

Honey Murcott stores better after purchase because the tighter skin loses moisture more slowly. Stored in the fridge crisper, Honey Murcott can last two to three weeks.

Imperial skin is thinner and more permeable. It will dry out more quickly at room temperature. Refrigerate Imperial if you are not eating it within a few days.

Where to find each variety

Imperial is available at all supermarkets, greengrocers, farmers markets, and fruit shops from April to June. It is sold loose and in 1 to 2 kg bags. Both Coles and Woolworths stock it as a named variety.

Honey Murcott is available at supermarkets from July onwards, usually bagged. It is also sold at farmers markets and some greengrocers. The label may say “Honey Murcott” or simply “Murcott.” Some supermarket-exclusive sweet mandarin varieties sold from July (such as Woolworths’ Phoenix) are Murcott-type mandarins.

Price

Imperial tends to be lower priced per kilogram early in the season when Queensland supply is high. Prices typically range from around $3 to $6 per kg during peak supply.

Honey Murcott can command a premium later in the season as supply tightens, particularly for named premium varieties from individual growers. Expect to pay $4 to $8 per kg depending on source and whether it is loose or bagged.

Bottom line

Buy Imperial in May and June for easy snacking, lunchboxes, and cooking where a sweet-tart citrus flavour suits.

Buy Honey Murcott from July onward when you want maximum sweetness and juice, and seeds are not a problem.

If you want seedless fruit through the whole season, look for Afourer from May onwards.