Gold Nugget is a recently-released mandarin variety developed within the University of California Riverside citrus breeding program. The tree grows vigorously and is upright in form. It can grow to a moderately-large size at maturity. Gold Nugget fruits are usually medium in size and oblate in form with a somewhat bumpy orange rind. The aromatic rind is moderately easy to peel. The flesh is bright orange, finely-textured, and seedless. The flavor is rich and sweet. The fruit usually matures by early March, but holds exceptionally well on the tree, with summer-harvested fruit still being of good quality.

The Gold Nugget Mandarin is a richly flavored mandarin, seedless and easy to peel. It is so named for its golden color and its pebbly skin. Gold Nugget’s most outstanding feature may be its long harvest period. Gold Nugget Mandarins provide the classic sweet/tart taste of mandarin orange for months longer than other varieties. Fruit holds on the tree from spring (February-March) through the summer (June-August). All these attributes make Gold Nugget Mandarin our favorite new mandarin!