The Magnificent MANGO

“Whether eaten raw or ripe, mango should be an essential part of your summer diet”

Make way for the king of fruits! delicious aromatic nutrient powerhouse has always topped the list of being everyone’s favourite fruit. Mango isn’t ‘king’ for its mere looks and fragrance, but the fruit has people salivating for it, because of its entirety.

A potent source of fibre and iron, vitamins A, C, E and K makes this fruit ‘play hard to get.’ Mango contains significant amounts of phosphorus, manganese and potassium. Also, the presence of flavonoids and polyphenol antioxidants in the fruit provides a variety of health benefits.

Sun Stroke Relief
Raw mango is loaded with pectin. The steamed pulp of raw mango should be juiced with sugar, rock salt and cumin (jeera) and served chilled to offer relief against heat stroke and exhaustion.

Prevents Eye Related Disorders
The presence of a powerful combination of vitamin A and flavonoids like beta-carotene, alpha-carotene and beta- cryptoxanthin in mango, makes it essential for good vision. Eating mango on a regular basis helps in preventing eye related disorders like dry eyes, burning and itching sensations, refractive errors and softening cornea.

Diabetes – Friendly
Mango has a low glycemic index – between 41 and 60 and it is known to reduce complications associated with diabetes. Also, a decoction made with mango leaves, is an excellent remedy for diabetics.

Beauty Benefits
The vitamin A present in mango helps in maintaining a soft and glowing complexion. Applying mango directly to acne-prone skin relieves dogged pores.

Boon For Pregnant Women
This tropical fruit is a rich source of iron and is especially recommended for pregnant women to help replace iron depletion during pregnancy. Vitamin C in the fruit enhances the absorption of Iron. So, mango can help both mother and baby stay healthy during pregnancy.

Combats Cancer
New research suggests that the polyphenol antioxidant compounds in mango acts as protection against breast and colon cancers. It is also rich in carotenes that are known to protect the body from lung and oral cancers.

Aids Digestion
The fibre found in mango helps regulate bowel movement and keeps constipation at bay. Mango contains digestive enzymes that help relieve acidity and break down proteins,thereby aiding digestion.

Your Favourite Mango Awaits You

“Alphonso mangoes are considered to be the finest and most superior in terms of taste, flavour, richness, and appearance”

It’s that time of the year when the sweet, pulpy, juicy, soft and lip-smacking, king of fruits takes over the market. There are as many as 1000 different varieties of mangoes but only about 20 varieties are cultivated for commercial purposes in the country. Take your pick from the many available varieties of mangoes that you should definitely try this summer, no matter where you are!

The most expensive and exquisite variety, Alphonso mangoes are considered to be the finest and most superior in terms of taste, flavour, richness, and appearance. It is pulpy, fibreless and smooth with a rich tender, creamy texture.

The deep sweet taste of these mangoes is due to the presence of terpenoids and the distinct fragrance and aroma is due to myrcene. Aiphonso mangoes are medium sized with a good balance of sugar and acid ratios. They are distinguished by a red tinge at the top of with a golden yellow colour all over.

The reason this fruit variety is expensive and limited is due to the scarcity of the weather and ground profiles required to cultivate this species of mango. The availability of Alphonso mangoes Is from the end of March-May.

Neelum
A late season variety et mango, Neelum is cultivated throughout India and Pakistan and is one of the mango varieties that grows consistently and yields larger quantities. Hyderabad is famous for this species and it is generally available in the market from the month of May – June.

Kesar
These mangoes are quite popular for their intense aroma and tend to attract passers-by outside the house. This variety is usually cultivated in Gujarat and is also known as Gujarati Kesar.

The ratio of acidity and sweetness is in proportion and Kesar mangoes are known for their usefulness in making aamras. It is available between June – July and is medium sized, fleshy sweet and fibreless.

Banganpalli
This variety is a fibreless, firm, sweet and yellow coloured pulpy fruit. These mangoes are larger in size and weigh around 350-400 grams. In Hindi, it is commonly known as Baneshan and it is the most common commercial variety of Andhra Pradesh.

Chaunsa
This late season mango is available mostly between July-August. Being large in size, a single mango of this variety weighs about 350 grams each. It is characterised with a bright yellow colour and has sweet, soft pulp.

Himsagar
A thin-skin variety with sweet sugary pulp and silky flesh, this species of mango is considered as one of the sweetest. These mostly ripen in the month of June.

Totapuri
As the name suggests, this mango resembles a parrot. ‘tota in Hindi means parrot and this mango is green all over with a beak-like formation at the bottom of the fruit.

This species is not as sweet as other mangoes and has a crunchy tangy taste, Women and children especially, love this variety for its tangy flavour, It is mostly eaten with salt and chilli powder sprinkled on it.

Bombay Green/Saroli
Bombay green is one of the first mangoes to make an appearance. Cultivated mostly in north India and Pakistan, Saroli is famous for its strong and pleasant flavour. These mangoes are medium sized and have sweet, soft pulp.

Dashehari
Due to its early origin, Dashehari is known as ‘mother of mango.’ These are medium sized fruits with sweet, pleasant, fibreless, firm pulp. Generally cultivated in the northern parts of India and especially Uttar Pradesh, Dashehari is available during June-July.

Langra
Named after a lame farmer who first harvested it, Langra is the fibrous variety of mango with a distinct turpentine taste. It is commonly grown in Haryana, West Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh and is available only for a short season that lasts from mid-July till the end of July.

Gulabkhas
This variety of mango is famous in Bihar for its rosy flavour. It is small and medium sized with a reddish blush towards its base and sides. Available in the mid-season.

Nutritional Value

One cup of mango gives you about 105 calories. Mango is highly rich in vitamins and minerals, problotics, fibre and antioxidants.
It also has a dash of citric acid and is loaded with malic and tartaric acids which help in alkalizatlon in the system.
A medium sized mango’s glycemic index would fall in between 41 to 60. This is good news for diabetics, as mango is rendered safe and nutritious.