Expression: Chinese mandarin

[Haihao]

Hi,

Could you please help me out with the following passage?

[Jamie (K)]

I'm not sure exactly what the phrase means, but I'm almost certain it doesn't mean an orange that has turned brown. More likely, it means that Mr. Mott resembled an old-time Chinese nobleman, except for the fact that he was of Latin American or African descent. Or maybe that he had a deep suntan.

[Haihao]

Thank you so much, Jamie, and happy to read your comment. It is really insightful and helpful to me.

Haihao