Why do mandarin oranges often come wrapped in paper?

The fresh fruit eventually arrived in wooden trays, precious little gifts individually wrapped in tissue paper. Sometimes you'd see a box of fruit with dark glossy leaves still attached. They were expensive – there were no bogof deals then. read more

Mandarin oranges (citrus reticulata) are also called “Christmas Oranges” because they are available during the Christmas season. The tissue paper adds to this perception of the fruit as a gift, and according to certain 20th century traditions, that's what they were for many poor Americans and Canadians in times of need. read more

When I buy a box of mandarin oranges, regardless of whether they are Chinese, Japanese, or Korean, Each individual orange is wrapped in a small square of paper. Whereas in the produce section the "loose" mandarins you buy by the pound have no such wrapping. read more