We’re big fans of gelatin around here. I add it to my marshmallow recipe and healthy jello. Tangerine gummies are another delicious and healthy way to enjoy this superfood.
Why Tangerine Gummies?
One of the main reasons to consider taking your vitamins in gummy form is the gelatin they contain. If you’ve been around the Wellness Mama site for long, you already know how great gelatin is. It strengthens hair and nails, makes for fewer wrinkles, and supports healthy joint function for ease of movement.
I also credit it for helping heal my son’s digestion so he could finally enjoy dairy!
Gelatin comes from the connective tissue (collagen) of animals and contains amino acid proteins we need for a healthy body. In fact, 25-35% of the protein in our body is made of collagen! You can read more about the benefits of gelatin here.
Difference Between Gelatin and Collagen
Here’s where things can sometimes get confusing. Collagen (connective tissues) from animals is broken down into gelatin and powdered or turned into sheets. The gelatin can further be broken down into collagen hydrosolate powder.
While both are incredibly healthy, it’s the gelatin that we want to use in these tangerine gummies. Collagen hydrosolate won’t gel. This makes it great for adding to soups, smoothies, and coffee, but not so much when we want a gummy candy.
It’s also worth noting I only use grass-fed gelatin. Pasture raised cows are healthier and have a higher ratio of healthy nutrients compared with factory farmed animals. It’s better for the planet and our bodies.
Finding Tangerines
I actually had to go to a few different stores before I could find tangerines. If you can’t find them then oranges can also work, though the flavor will obviously be different. Clementines and mandarin oranges are popular lately and are a close relation to tangerines, so they’re also a good substitute.
If you can find tangerines though, the unique tangy flavor is well worth it! Tangerines (like most citrus) are high in vitamin C. You’ll also find some beta carotene, B vitamins, calcium, magnesium, and potassium.
A Boost of Vitamin C
Most of us think vitamin C when we hear citrus, but camu camu berry actually blows them out of the water on this one. Just one teaspoon of camu camu berry powder offers well over 1,000% of our daily value of vitamin C! Camu camu is also one of the star ingredients in my vitamin C herbal electuaries.
This recipe makes 8 servings of citrus gummies which comes out to a little over 100% DV vitamin C per serving. Unlike other supplements, eating more than a serving size won’t hurt you. Worst case scenario you might get loose stools if you eat an entire double batch yourself.
According to Mayo Clinic the average adult can handle up to 2,000 mg vitamin C before they start having digestive issues. This recipe has less than half that amount in the entire batch. So eat away.
Tangerine Gummies
Between tangy tangerine juice, vitamin C rich camu camu, and protein packed gelatin, these gummy snacks are as healthy as they are delicious. Since they store well in the fridge, it’s a great make ahead snack for little ones to grab. You may want to double the batch though because they don’t last long!
If you want to add some essential oil to boost the flavor but don’t have tangerine on hand, sweet orange will also work.
Tangerine Gummies Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh tangerine juice
- 5 TBSP gelatin
- ¼ cup honey
- ¾ tsp camu camu berry powder
- 4 drops organic tangerine essential oil (optional)
Instructions
- Whisk the tangerine juice, camu camu powder, and honey together in a sauce pan until combined.
- Sprinkle the gelatin over the top of the juice mixture and let it sit for about 4 minutes to “bloom.” When the top looks wrinkled and thegelatin has absorbed into the liquid, turn the heat onto medium low.
- Whisk gently until the gelatin is completely dissolved, about 3-5 minutes. Don’t get crazy here or the mixture will get really foamy!
- Turn off the heat and briskly whisk in the essential oil if using. This helps amp up the citrus flavor.
- Pour the juice mixture into your molds and refrigerate until firm. If you’re not using a mold, then an 8×8 glass baking dish will also work. Simply cut the gelatin into squares when cooled.
- Store the finished gummies in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
Notes
Nutrition
Ever made homemade “gummy bears” Ready to give these a try? Share below!
Hi Katie, I live in South America and I can’t find kosher gelatin here, all I can find is very cheap ones that have many additives. Do you know if agar agar is a good replacement and if it can be used with your recipe? Thanks a lot!
Hi Nina,
Where in South America are you so I can do some investigating for you? Agar agar does not have the same benefits as gelatin and I haven’t tried using it as a replacement in this recipe so I can’t say but I do know that iherb.com has reasonable shipping rates on Great Lakes and other items. I would suggest ordering from them.
Hope that helps,
Sylvie
Hello 🙂 at what stage should I add the camu camu powder? Thank you
I have been trying various recipes this week for homemade gummies using fruit juice and Great Lakes Gelatin (in the red can). The last batch I made used about 1 cup fruit juice concentrate (that I made), 2 tbs. raw honey, 2 tbs. lemon juice, and 3 tbs. gelatin. Like the other recipes I have tried I can taste the gelatin in the end product, a taste I don’t really enjoy. Am I doing something wrong? I always let the gelatin bloom first in about 1/3 cup water before adding it to my warmed juice/honey. They always LOOK great, but I can’t get paste the taste. Do you have any ideas?
Hi Christie,
I would suggest using a stronger overpowering juice flavor, perhaps like the tangerine above to mask the flavor.
If that still is too strong for you, you could make “jello” instead since that recipe will use a lower juice to gelatin ratio. Here is a recipe for you: https://wellnessmama.com/3803/healthy-jello/
Hope that helps,
Sylvie
I just made these and based on the couple concerns about gelatin flavor, I added a half inch piece of fresh grated ginger to the tangerine juice. I definitely don’t taste ANY beefiness. Might not work for kids who aren’t accustomed to ginger (unlike my 2 year old cousin who likes pickled ginger with his sushi…), but for adults it’s definitely a good fix!
I would try using a blender verses whisking it. This has really helped me.
That’s a great tip, Danielle!
Thank you!
Sylvie
We use Great Lakes gelatin. I agree…the gummies smell and taste like the gelatin. Can’t get anyone to eat them! Is there a different gelatin that doesn’t have such a strong offensive flavor and smell?
Do these keep at all? If so, what’s the best way for me to store them and for how long? Thanks!
Hi Sarah,
At my house they disappear in minutes 🙂
I would suggest storing in the fridge. The “shelf life” when using fresh ingredients like fresh squeezed juice will be as long as the juice’s shelf life so just a few days.
I suppose you could try freezing but I’ve never attempted it. I would make half a batch if you think you won’t consume them in a few days (4-5).
Hope that helps,
Sylvie
Katie,
We LOVE your gummy recipe but my kids won’t eat them anymore 🙁 After a few days in the fridge they really started to get a very beefy taste and it seems to have scarred them for life lol. I kept them in tupperware and in a plastic baggie-both times they were in the door…could this cause any issue? Have you had the same problem and if so HOW do I fix it???
Hi Morgan,
How about easing them back in with a “jello” recipe instead. Since jello contains less gelatin than gummies that might be a good way to test the waters with them. Also, when you do attempt gummies again, perhaps use strong flavors like the tangerine ones above that will overpower the gelatin flavor.
Here’s a jello recipe in the meantime: https://wellnessmama.com/3803/healthy-jello/
Hope that helps,
Sylvie
Based on the molds recommended, how many should I eat in one sitting?
Hi Tiffany,
Eat as many as you like, but not more than you’d like. 🙂 There is no dose required. Just let your body let you know what it’s comfortable with.
Hope that helps,
Sylvie
Wish this was book was in Kindle.
You can open it in Kindle if you download it on an iPad
Hi Denise,
You can definitely view PDFs on your kindle. Will that work for you?
Hope that helps,
Sylvie
Im getting married May 31 of next year. DOING. THIS.
Congrats Amy!
Hope you enjoy it!
Sylvie
Gelatin seems to break me out 🙁 do you know why that could be? I’d love to take it for all the health benefits but not at the expense of my face
Hi Amanda
Are you sure it’s the gelatin or could it be another ingredient in the recipe? Also, have you tried a different brand just in case? Great Lakes, Vital Proteins and Bernard Jensen are all great quality.
Hope that helps- I’ll check back here in a couple days to see if you’ve replied and I can help you further.
Thanks!
Sylvie
I have never tried to make anything with gelatin, but this recipe has me curious to try. I really love all the recipes you post btw! There are never too many ingredients, and I’m always shocked at how simple they are to do. Thank you!!
-Mae
Thank you Mae! Hope you enjoy it!
Sylvie
Hi Wellness Mama! I’m not too familiar with gelatin, but want to make it my top priority to make these to help my skin and joint pain. You said that also that “consuming gelatin and collagen work as ‘botox'”. Pardon my potentially silly question, but is collagen a part of gelatin or is this something I need to buy separately? And the product you recommended in your recipe, does that have both? Thank you!
Hi Mariel,
The one mentioned in the recipe works just fine. You can also buy the green can by the same brand but that one does not gel. You can add that one to things like tea, coffee, smoothies. There is more info on how gelatin and collagen can help your skin in the ebook mentioned above. Consuming plenty of bone broth and soups made with broth would be great too!
Hope that helps,
Sylvie
There are two different products on the link. Which one is for skin and hair and to make gummies?
Both are ok to take internally. Collagen Protein will gel and is used in this recipe. Collagen peptides will not gel but is good for adding to smoothies or coffee/tea.
Hi There.
I love reading your articles Katie & your passion for helping the working mother be healthy and happy. However, I find this recipe about gelatin gummies to be disheartening. I know as a mother I want my children to understand what gelatin is. Heck, for my whole life I was comfortable unaware of the horrible and inhumane process it takes to produce gelatin…..So, before we continue preaching to other women how “healthy” gelatin is for the skin we should really ask,”did this mother cow who was ripped from her baby have to die a horrible death(check out factory farming if you think it’s not so bad), only to enjoy a gooey treat that benefits the human health & well being….
We need to change the narrative. We need to help those who have no voice. We need to teach truth, and reverse out-of-sight-out -of-mind thinking.
I am not speaking in anger towards anyone who consumes animal products. I’m not getting an ego boost or on some kind of self righteousness trip. I was a animal eater for a long time. But it is morally wrong, we have to be the adults in the room and listen to our inner child. These animals cannot suffer anymore. It isn’t just the animals, it’s the health of our planet as well.
And if you just don’t care…..well, it’s very difficult to pull someone out of the mind washed matrix.
To sum up….you don’t need animal marrow or bone broth to make your bones, intestines, or face healthy. Eating animal body parts or flesh is not part of a well balanced diet…..you can get collagen building proteins from other plant based foods.
Be Happy By Evolution. As a species who is very much influenced by media, if one chooses to eat animal products they should have to witness how that animal was tortured before consuming.
Come out of the Cave, What you eat should be a bite of love….not tortured blood.
Carla,
There are animals in the wild, there are domesticated animals, and there are food on four legs animals.
Some animals are made to be eaten, and they are good for very little else. Let’s release the millions of cattle into the hills without any food, water and ability to fend for themselves. I hope you will be there to clean up the carcasses and “love” the maggots (maggots are animals too, right?) in the rotting carcass as they pile up around the roads and lakes.
On a side note – this recipe is fantastic, and i’ve done this with blueberry and acai berry juice (avoid pineapple juice – the bromelic acid prevents the gelatin from forming bonds and setting) for a vitamin & anti-oxidant loaded boost in the office.
Since you have to chew/eat it, it greatly reduces my snack-attach in the office by tea-time as well.
Great idea!