Your Guide to Indian Mangoes Dhawal Shah | June 06, 2014

Indian mangoes have a special place in the hearts of all Indians, no matter where in the world we are. Come April, when the season for Indian mangoes begins, a sort of mania comes over us. With a history of mango cultivation dating back almost 4000 years, it is no wonder. Conversations revolve around purchasing the best crates of mangoes and how sweet/sour the batch we ate last night were.

The debate over the best variety of Indian mangoes is never ending (psst… Alphonso). However, this article is not to fan that debate nor to grumble about that Alphonso mango crate that can’t ripen soon enough. While it ripens though, we decided to put together this guide to different types of Indian mangoes. There are more varieties than those we mention here, so if we miss out, please add on through the comments.

King of Indian Mangoes – Alphonso

Despite a short season from April til May, the Alphonso is regarded as the King of the Indian Mangoes- a title under constant dispute. Grown mainly in Maharastra and Gujarat, it is exquisite in its appearance, texture and taste, with this apt description by The Guardian – “[its] voluptuous shape and sunshine-yellow skin reveals succulent saffron-coloured flesh that’s smooth and buttery”. It is also known as the Hapoos keri (mango in Gujarati) and its mango pulp is considered the most premium of all the Indian mangoes. Indians are OBSESSED by it, an obsession that is spreading worldwide. They can be found at Mustafa where they usually sell for SGD7.90 per kilo but are currently going at SGD6.90 per kilo.

Banganapalli

Banganapalli is grown in Andhra Pradesh and is most popular amongst South Indians, who swear allegiance to this variety of Indian mango. Extremely juicy, it is yellow and rich in flavor – with this ode to the Banganapalli labeling it as the Anna Nicole Smith of Indian mangoes. They can be found at Mustafa for SGD6.90 per kilo.

Totapuri

‘Tota’ translated means parrot – and this mango gets its name due to its distinctive beak-like shape. Grown widely in South India in the state of Andhra Pradesh, it is known as Bangalora in most parts of India and has a season lasting from mid-April til mid-July. Together with the Alphonso and Kesar, it is grown mainly for its pulp and does not taste as sweet as the rest on its own. People have also been known to eat the skin of this Indian mango variety. They can be found at Mustafa for SGD4.90 per kilo.

Kesar

Small and round in shape, this variety of Indian mango is cultivated in Gujarat. Although not very attractive on the outside – with a pale yellow appearance – it is what’s inside that makes this a sought after mango. Extremely juicy with a rich yellow appearance, just thinking about it makes my mouth water and its grown prominently for the mango pulp to make delicious mango desserts. They can be found at Mustafa for SGD6.90 per kilo.

Langra

The myth behind the name of this mango is that the original owner of the tree was lame – hence the name ‘langra’ (lame in Hindi). Originating out of Varanasi, it shares the ‘Mother’ tag with the Dussehri mango as the originator of many different varieties. Extremely popular in the northern regions of India, it also has the shortest season that lasts barely a month in July. It is greener and rounder than the rest of the varieties and some say it can give the Alphonso a run for its money when it comes to sweetness. They can be found at Mustafa for SGD6.90 per kilo.

Lalbaug

Lalbaug has the same name as a famous botanical gardens in Bangalore but we do not believe there is any affiliation (On a side note, there is an annual Mango Fair that takes place at the Lalbaug Botanical Gardens during mango season). Round in shape and slightly greenish, the ‘lal’ (red) in Lalbaug probably originates from the red color it turns on the top end. It is also known for its juicy pulp although not as sweet in taste as the Hapoos. They can be found at Mustafa for SGD4.90 per kilo.

Dussehri

Named after the village from which it originates (sometimes spelled Dashehari), the Dussehri is considered the ‘Mother’ of Indian mangoes, as most varieties of North Indian mangoes can be traced back to it. With a sweet and succulent pulp, it is slightly longer than the rest of the mangoes, almost always green on the outside and is definitely worth a try. We were unable to find this mango in Singapore.

Chaunsa

Another contender for King of Mangoes, Chaunsa literally means ‘sucker’. It is yellowish in colour, with a delightfully fleshy pulp and a fragrance to get your tastebuds working overtime. It is normally grown in the North of India and Pakistan, with a season lasting from June til August. We were unable to find this mango in Singapore.

Special Mention: Sein Ta Lone Mango From Myanmar

The Sein Ta Lone, also known as the Diamond Solitaire mangoes, originate from Myanmar and have been all the rage in Singapore this mango season. They smell amazing and taste like heaven, with an extreme richness and sweetness to rival the Alphonso, although they are not as fibrous. If unripe, just leave them on the kitchen top. As such, we felt it deserved a special mention in our guide. They can be found at Mustafa for SGD6.90 per kilo.

So there you have the 6 most popular varieties of Indian mangoes. Wondering where you can purchase them? Check out Mustafa Centre

Do you know where else we can buy mangoes in Singapore? Let us know in the comments!









