The color tangerine is a bright reddish-orange hue that resembles the tangerine citrus fruit. Tangerine is a member of the orange color family and is often considered a shade of orange. However, tangerine has distinctive properties that differentiate it from orange.
Quick Answer
Tangerine is a reddish-orange color named after the tangerine fruit. It is brighter and more reddish than pure orange. The first recorded use of “tangerine” as a color name in English was in 1899.
Etymology and History
The name “tangerine” comes from the citrus fruit of the same name, which was first imported to Europe from Tangier, Morocco in the early 1800s. The fruit was named for the Moroccan seaport from which it was shipped.
As a color name, “tangerine” emerged by 1899, referencing the bright reddish-orange color of the fruit’s skin. The earliest recorded use of “tangerine” as a color name in English was in Interim Report on the Practice of Textile Dyeing Among the Ancient Inhabitants of Mexico and Central America by Alexander H. Church.
Tangerine vs. Orange
While tangerine is considered a type of orange, it has defining characteristics that set it apart:
| Tangerine | Orange |
|---|---|
| Brighter and more reddish-orange | More muted and yellowish |
| Similar to red-orange | Closer to yellow-orange |
| High chroma and saturation | Lower chroma and saturation |
Tangerine also differs from the orange color called cadmium orange. Cadmium orange is a bright golden yellow-orange that fits in the orange family, while tangerine diverges into redder hues.
Tangerine in Design
In design, tangerine provides a bold, energetic accent color. It has high visibility, making it effective for grabbing attention. Tangerine adds a sense of fun and youthfulness when paired with neutral backgrounds.
Some classic color pairings featuring tangerine include:
- Tangerine and turquoise
- Tangerine and light blue
- Tangerine and lime green
- Tangerine and teal
- Tangerine and chocolate brown
- Tangerine and charcoal
Tangerine works well in youthful designs like posters, book covers, websites and packaging. In interior design, it can create an invigorating accent wall or liven up a neutral room as an accessory color.
Tangerine Color Codes
Tangerine has representation in most major color systems:
| Color System | Tangerine Color Code |
|---|---|
| HEX | #F28500 |
| RGB | 242, 133, 0 |
| CMYK | 0, 45, 100, 5 |
| Pantone | Orange 021 |
| RAL | 1028 Melon Yellow |
These specific codes will produce an intense, vivid tangerine across applications. The HEX code #F28500 is the most widely used web color code for tangerine.
Tangerine vs. Similar Colors
Tangerine has similarities to other reddish-orange colors, but has defining characteristics:
| Color | How Tangerine Differs |
|---|---|
| Coral | Coral has more pink undertones |
| Salmon | Salmon is lighter and more pinkish |
| Peach | Peach is lighter and more yellowish |
| Persimmon | Persimmon is much darker and more orange-red |
| Terracotta | Terracotta is grayer and earthier |
So while shades like coral and salmon are related colors, tangerine occupies its own distinctive place in the reddish-orange family.
Tangerine Pigments and Dyes
Historically, tangerine color was produced using organic dyes and pigments. These included:
- Safflower – A flowering plant used to make red and orange dyes
- Annatto – Reddish dye derived from the seeds of the achiote tree
- Sandarac – Orange resin from the sandarac pine tree
- Cadmium sulfide – Inorganic pigment, known as cadmium orange
Modern synthetic organic pigments and dyes can reproduce the tangerine color more consistently across materials and manufacturing processes. Popular options include azo dyes, quinacridone, and perylene pigments.
Tangerine can also be mixed by combining red and yellow pigments or paints. Mixing a red with a high yellow content, like vermilion, with a lemon yellow produces a good approximation of tangerine.
Tangerine in Nature
Tangerine’s namesake fruit features the quintessential reddish-orange hue. But the vibrant color also appears in many flowers, minerals, animals and natural phenomena:
- Marigolds – The flower heads bloom in warm shades from yellow-orange to tangerine.
- Monarch butterfly wings – Bright orange with yellow, red and black markings.
- Fire opal – A transparent gemstone exhibiting fiery orange, yellow and red.
- Goldfish – Selectively bred for their brilliant reddish-orange coloration.
- Sunsets – Longer wavelength red and orange light scatters at sunset, producing dramatic tangerine skies.
- Autumn leaves – Leaves shift from green to warm hues like tangerine before falling.
Tangerine represents the vivid warmth, energy and transformations found in nature. It reflects natural cycles like sunset and autumn.
Tangerine in Culture
Tangerine has symbolic associations in culture due to its attention-grabbing energy. It is often seen as cheerful, uplifting and lively:
- Hinduism – Tangerine is the color worn by Hindu monks of the Swaminarayan faith.
- Buddhism – Orange robes are worn by Theravada Buddhist monks.
- Western culture – Tangerine is associated with joy, creativity and social communication.
- Design – Tangerine grabs attention and conveys excitement, fun and youthful vibes.
However, culture also connects tangerine to themes like warning, danger and hazard due its high visibility. Traffic cones, safety vests and warning signs are often bright tangerine.
Overall, this vibrant shade carries connotations of energy, warmth, enthusiasm and positivity in cultures around the world.
Conclusion
Tangerine is a signature reddish-orange color bearing the name of the fruit that epitomizes its hue. Brighter and more red than orange, tangerine has high chroma that grabs attention. This vibrant shade conveys warmth, joy and energy across cultures. From its natural embodiments like flowers and sunsets, to its cultural symbolism, tangerine expresses the essence of excitement, creativity and positivity.
