I have Shasta Gold, it's ok, but not great. Flavor is an 8, not as heavy of a yield as I would like to see.
My fav for flavor are Kinnow and Daisy.

I can't speak for growing, but a vendor at the local farmer's market had a dozen different varieties of mandarin, and Shasta Gold was easily my favorite. Large, seedless, juicy, flavorful, extremely easy-peel. The best specimens are truly a culinary experience.

The very-large fruit suggest a very robust tree, at least in the Fresno area where grower is located.

Ashley, what has JoeReal had to say? I'd trust his opinion on this one for sure. And, I wonder if taste will be more geographically influenced on these "Gold" series? Thought I read that somewhere. Here's more info about these 3 hybrids from the UCR site (you may have already read this):

The following information is from The Facts sheets of Tahoe Gold, Yosemite Gold and Shasta Gold mandarins written by M.L. Roose and T.E. Williams, Department of Botany and Plant Sciences' University of California, Riverside.

Hybrids of the Encore and Dancy mandarins and Temple tangor.

Tahoe Gold is a recently-released (2002) mandarin variety developed within the University of California Riverside citrus breeding program. The tree grows vigorously and is somewhat spreading in form, with a tendency to alternate bearing. Tahoe Gold (TDE3) is a hybrid with Temple tangor, and Dancy and Encore mandarins in its parentage. It is a mid-season maturing mandarin hybrid that combines large fruit size, attractive deep orange rind colour, rich fruit flavour and the virtual absence of seeds even in mixed plantings. The season for Tahoe Gold is mid-January to mid-February at Riverside. The fruit does not hold well on the tree.

Yosemite Gold is a recently-released (2002) mandarin variety developed within the University of California Riverside citrus breeding program. The average fruit size is large for a mandarin (classed as Mammoth by California state standards) with a mean width of 75mm (2.95 in.) and a height of 58 mm (2.30 in.), giving a height to width aspect ratio of 0.78, and a mean weight per fruit of 175 grams (6 oz.-heavy for the fruit size). The rind of fruit from trees with very light crops is sometimes excessively rough or bumpy. The rind is quite easy to peel when fruit are mature, but can be more adherent early in the season. The fruit is moderately juicy averaging 42% juice content. The flesh is seedless, bright orange, finely-textured and juicy. The flavour is rich and sweet. The season for Yosemite Gold (TDE4) is January to mid-March and the fruits hold well on the tree into April.

Shasta Gold is a recently-released (2002) mandarin variety developed within the University of California Riverside citrus breeding program. The tree grows vigorously and is somewhat spreading in form, with a tendency to alternate bearing. It can achieve a moderately-large size at maturity. Shasta Gold (TDE2) is a hybrid with Temple tangor, and Dancy and Encore mandarins in its parentage. The large oblate fruits have an attractive dark orange rind that is relatively thin. The flesh is seedless, bright orange, and juicy. The flavour is rich and sweet when mature. The season for Shasta Gold is mid-February to mid-March at Riverside and the fruit hold well on the tree into April or May.

Let us know what you end up with, I've considered adding one or two of the "Gold" series to my little orchard, too.

Patty S.

Here is a link that might be useful: UCR: Sweet Citrus Varieties with Deep Orange Rind Released by UC Riverside

I believe in large part it may be an issue of personal preference. I just tried Shasta Gold for the first time and was surprised, I really like it. The flavor is very aromatic in the sort of way a Satsuma is, but has much more of a tart flavor to it, similar to a Tangelo. If you like more sourness and highly aromatic, I think you will like it. But people have different tastes. I'm not a big fan of the flavor of Dancy or Dekopon, for example, so I don't think my tastes are representative of most people. I read a review that someone else thought Shasta Gold had a strange flavor and didn't like it.

As a note, this thread is almost 8 years old but just wanted to add that I remember following JoeReal for quite some time back then and earlier, here on GW and his citrus (and other fruits) collection, along with with his incredible grafting skills, was legendary - with most if not all of it potted. His small California yard was just in the right climatological spot to succeed.

I would weigh the pros and cons of each variety and go from there. If a variety has a lot of seeds, tart tasting, alternate bearing, or doesn't hold fruit very well, those are scratched off my list. My winter storage space has become limited so now I have to be VERY picky. If a plant doesn't live up to expectations, it has to be eliminated so a better variety can take its place.

I would Google all 3 varieties and read as much as you can on each. Then make a decision.

I tried Shasta some time ago and it was very sweet and had a very pleasant flavor, no sourness.

Denise, let me know if you ever have any that you need to get rid of. I’ll gladly help you out ;)

Kelly I have no way of contacting you if I decide to thin out what I have. Where are you located in GA?

Kelley, I am one hour south of you in Warner Robins right off I-75. Maybe we can meet up one day. I wrote down your email address. Thanks.

I have a potted Shasta and I love the flavor of the fruit a very different flavor from other mandarins. I find them very sweet iits almost a fruity tropical taste very different from other mandarins Ive tasted complex for sure and my fruit's weren't sour at all . The Golds are all close in flavor , I heard Shasta has a smoother texture . On the down side a young Shasta Gold has large thorns but the fruit definitely makes up for that issue.

Brian