PONTIANAK SIAM TANGERINE GUIDE
Pontianak orange: why a green peel can hold ripe orange pulp
The Pontianak orange is a Siam tangerine (Citrus nobilis var. microcarpa) from West Kalimantan with a thin green to yellowish-green peel, orange pulp, and a sweet, refreshing taste. It is grown mainly in Tebas District, Sambas Regency; the name "Pontianak" is used as a trade name. It is good eaten fresh or juiced. At Jerpon HR, the fruit is sold by the basket and sorted by size into grades AA, AB, C, D, and E.
- A green peel is a natural trait
- Grades AA-E sort by size
- Stock and prices follow the harvest season
THE PONTIANAK CHARACTER
Peel colour is only one of its traits.
Variety, season, orchard conditions, aroma, texture, and how full the fruit is all shape ripeness and taste.
A green peel can still be ripe
The peel can stay green or turn yellowish green while the inside is already ripe and bright orange.
Sweet, fresh, and juicy
The taste can change with the harvest season. The segments suit eating fresh or squeezing into fresh juice.
Different sizes, same handling
AA, AB, C, D, and E are size groups. Hera helps you choose a grade for home, business, or resale needs.
Fruit for a balanced diet
Oranges provide vitamin C and, when you eat the segments too, fibre as part of a balanced diet.
Keep it cool and dry
Once the fruit arrives, keep the basket somewhere cool and dry, away from direct heat. Do not stack baskets too high, because the weight damages fruit in the lower layers. Check the basket and set aside damaged fruit so it does not affect the rest. The 1°C target mentioned on the homepage is the set point of the HR warehouse cold room, not a suggested home fridge temperature.
Confirm today's batch
Because harvests change, stock, grades, prices, and delivery are always confirmed directly with Hera on WhatsApp.
What is a Siam tangerine?
The Siam tangerine is the citrus behind the name Pontianak orange: a Pontianak orange is a Siam tangerine from West Kalimantan, grown mainly in Tebas District, Sambas Regency, not in orchards in Pontianak City. It has a green to yellowish-green peel, bright orange pulp with juicy segments, and a sweet, refreshing taste. Jerpon HR sells this Siam tangerine by the basket and sorts it by size into grades AA to E.
Where do Pontianak oranges come from?
Pontianak oranges come from West Kalimantan, grown mainly in Tebas District, Sambas Regency, not in orchards in Pontianak City. A local saying sums it up: "Tebas has the oranges, Pontianak has the name." That is why Pontianak oranges and Sambas oranges often refer to the same supply chain: Pontianak is the trade name, and Tebas-Sambas is the growing area.
Siam tangerines have been grown in Tebas since around 1936, from seedlings brought by Chinese immigrants, and became a major commodity from the late 1980s to the 1990s. Sambas is still a major growing area: Sambas Regency open data records Siam and mandarin orange production of about 1.03 million quintals in 2025.
Sources: Wikipedia: Pontianak orange (Indonesian article), BRMP Jestro: Siam Pontianak, a popular orange, Open Data Sambas.
Why does the peel of a Pontianak orange stay green when it is ripe?
The peel of a Pontianak orange stays green because nights in the tropical lowlands stay warm, so little of the chlorophyll in the peel breaks down even when the pulp is already orange and ripe. Oranges from areas with cool nights turn orange on the outside sooner. Peel color is therefore not a measure of ripeness for Pontianak oranges, including those sold by Jerpon HR.
So peel color alone is not enough to judge whether a Pontianak orange is ripe. More reliable signs: the fruit feels heavy for its size, the peel is not wrinkled, and there are no soft or moldy spots.
Sources: RRI: why orange peel stays green in the tropics, Kompas: signs of a sweet, ripe orange.
How do you recognize a genuine Pontianak orange?
A Pontianak orange usually has a thin, smooth peel that is green to yellowish green, bright orange pulp with juicy segments, and a sweet, refreshing taste. These traits do not prove which orchard the fruit came from, because the Pontianak name is also used for Siam tangerines from other areas. To be sure of the origin, ask the seller where the batch came from.
- Thin, smooth peel, green to yellowish green
- Bright orange pulp with juicy segments
- Sweet and refreshing; sweetness and juiciness change with the season and the batch
- Good for eating fresh or for juicing
- In markets it is also called Siam Pontianak, Sambas orange, or Pontianak juicing orange
How do you choose a sweet Pontianak orange?
To choose a sweet Pontianak orange, check its weight, peel, and condition, not its peel color. Pick fruit that feels heavy for its size, with no wrinkles and no soft or moldy spots. At Jerpon HR, grades only mark size, so ask Hera how the batch of the day tastes.
When is Pontianak orange season?
The Kompas 2026 fruit season calendar places the Pontianak orange harvest from late July through September. Outside that peak the fruit is still available, but quantity, sorted sizes, and price change. That is why Jerpon HR confirms stock and price per batch through Hera on WhatsApp, not with a fixed calendar on the site.
Read next
What grades AA to E mean, how Jeruk Siam, Madu Super, and Madu Susu differ, how prices are set, and juicing oranges for business. Nutrition source: NIH Office of Dietary Supplements.
QUICK ANSWERS
What buyers ask most.
What is a Pontianak orange?
The Pontianak orange is a Siam tangerine (Citrus nobilis var. microcarpa) from West Kalimantan with a thin green to yellowish-green peel, orange pulp, and a sweet, refreshing taste. It is grown mainly in Tebas District, Sambas Regency, while Pontianak is used as the trade name. It is eaten fresh or juiced for iced orange drinks and juice.
Is a green Pontianak orange ripe?
It can be. A green peel is common in Jeruk Siam Pontianak. Ripeness should not be judged by peel colour alone.
What is the difference between grades AA, AB, C, D, and E?
Grades group the fruit by size. AA is the largest, then AB, C, D, and E is the smallest. Grade does not indicate sweetness. Availability of each grade changes with the harvest and the sorting.
What is the price of Pontianak oranges today?
Price follows the season, variety, grade, quantity, and delivery destination. Hera confirms the latest batch price on WhatsApp.
Can I buy for a juice business or for resale?
Yes. Tell us what you need, how often you use it, how many baskets, and the delivery area so the fruit can be matched to your use. Reseller orders start at 5 baskets.
What is the scientific name of the Pontianak orange?
The Pontianak orange is a Siam tangerine with the scientific name Citrus nobilis var. microcarpa.
Are Pontianak oranges the same as Sambas oranges?
Both names are often used for the same supply chain, in different contexts. The growing area is Tebas District, Sambas Regency, West Kalimantan, while Pontianak is used as the trade name.
Where does Jerpon HR stock come from?
The fruit is harvested in West Kalimantan orchards, sorted and chilled at the HR facility in Pontianak, shipped by sea to Jakarta, then checked again and stabilized in the HR cold store in West Jakarta before it goes out to buyers.
Are Pontianak oranges sweet?
Pontianak oranges are generally known as sweet and refreshing, but sweetness and juiciness change with the season, the orchard, and the batch. At Jerpon HR, grades AA to E only separate fruit by size, so size is not a sign of taste. For the batch currently available, ask Hera on WhatsApp 0813-6637-8484 how it tastes before you order.
How do you store Pontianak oranges so they last?
Store Pontianak oranges in a cool, dry place away from direct heat, and do not stack baskets too high, so the fruit in the bottom layer is not crushed. Check the basket as soon as it arrives and set aside any damaged fruit. The 1°C target in the Jerpon HR warehouse is the cold room set point, not a recommended temperature for a home fridge.
- Open the basket as soon as it arrives.
- Set aside fruit that is soft, bruised, or moldy.
- Store in a cool, dry place, away from the stove and the sun.
- Do not stack baskets too high.
- Use the fruit that arrived first, first.
Do Pontianak oranges contain vitamin C?
Yes. Like other oranges, Pontianak oranges contain vitamin C; the vitamin C fact sheet from the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements lists citrus fruit as one of its sources. Jerpon HR has not measured the amount per fruit, so the site gives no figure. Oranges are part of a balanced diet, not a substitute for medical treatment or a doctor's advice.
JERPON HR • SINCE 1998