The world's smallest citrus fruit, Clementiny Clementines, are to go on sale at Tesco stores in the UK this week as part of the run-up to Christmas, H&C has learned.

The fruit, which originates from the Jianxi region of southern China, is around one-third of the size of a traditional clementine, and is easy to peel containing virtually no pips, according to Tesco, who say it is perfect for tiny fingers to peel.

Clementinys will be priced at £1.50 per 350g carton.

"These little beauties should delight youngsters and parents alike as they're not only the perfect size for Christmas stockings but also great for school lunchboxes as well," said Tesco citrus buyer Paul Cunningham. "The little segments fit easily into tiny hands and are great for presenting toddlers the simplest opportunity to peel, pick and ultimately eat on their own.

"The tiny segments have a rich, refreshing flavour and are more aromatic than traditional clementines," he added. "They will complement the rest of our growing range of mini versions of fruit – from baby bananas, mini mangoes and fun-sized apples."