The origin of clementines remains somewhat of a mystery.  Some attribute discovery of the clementine to Father Clement Rodier, a French missionary in Algeria who found a natural mutation while tending his garden at an orphanage of Misserghim.  He nurtured the fruit tree and subsequently called it "clementino".  Others believe the clementine originated in Asia and found its way through human migration to the Mediterranean.  Regardless of their origin, clementines are continueing to increase in popularity throughout the world.

California recently began planting new Clementine acreage to supply a rapidly expanding domestic market, previously supplied by imports from Spain.  New varieties of clementines continue to develop from natural mutation found by careful observation from growers and plant breeders.