Varieties of mango fruit
Delicious and perfect to eat at any time. Mango is a tropical fruit loved by everybody. It can be enjoyed just like a fruit, tasting its special flavour, aroma and texture, but it becomes a wonderful ingredient to add to your favourite salad and, of course, mangos can also be a part of the ingredients of desserts.
But: Do you know that mango is just a general name that includes a lot of varieties? In fact, there are as many varieties that it is not easy to list all of them, even, there are always more and more! We have selected some of the most known varieties of mango, including some of the most popular mangos and some of the most exclusive ones.
How many of these varieties of mango do you know?
- Alphonso: It is a new kind of mango, but it has become very popular in a little time thanks to its juiciness, taste and texture.
- Ataulfo: This small variety is very resistant after harvesting, so it is easy to find in shops and offers wonderful export prospects.
- Carabao: Carabao mango AKA Philippine mango is worldly known thanks to its exotic taste. It is considered one of the sweetest mangos.
- Edward: Sweet and spicy is this variety that can be easily eaten with a spoon.
- Francis: It is unctuous and really sweet.
- Haden: Fruity and unctuous is this variety, ideal for gourmands.
- Irwin: Firm and juicy, aromatic and tasty, sweet and intense: So it is Irwin mango. This variety is fragile so it is not easy to find, but due to the characteristics it joins Irwin is one of the most appreciated products.
- Julie: Small mango with exceptional taste although it is not easy to be produced.
- Keitt: A high quality mango that is very easy-to-find ins shops.
- Kensington: After harvesting it keeps form, smell and taste for some time, so is a very popular option.
- Kent: Resistant to shipping so easy to find in shops. It is very tasty.
- Kesar: It is probably the most expensive variety of mangos, but it means that is an exceptional quality product.
- Mabruka: Mabruka comes from Egypt, and its main characteristic is the nice flavour it owns.
- Manila: Very sweet and juicy, this mango is rich in vitamins A and C, as well as iron.
- Ngwee: Soft and nice as it has no fibbers. It comes from Africa.
- Palmer: One of the first varieties that can be found in the markets because of its early harvesting. Mango Palmer offers a very soft texture so it can be enjoyed by all the family.
- Osteen: A good quality product that is really easy to enjoy as it can be eaten with a spoon. It is the most popular variety of mangos from the South of Spain.
- Sensation: It is quite popular as the Sensation mango tree can resist lower temperatures.
- Tommy Atkins: Rich in fibre, with a firm pulp, its taste is sweet
- Zill: Very aromatic, really juicy and incredibly sweet, that is Zill mango.
Tips to buy mango?
When we buy fruit such as mango, we look at the colour of its skin. Bad idea! Now we know that there are a lot of varieties, with different aspects and colours, so checking appeareance is not the best to by a good quality product ready to be eaten. How to buy ripe mangos? It is easy: a mango is aromatic, and it is firm but soft when we touch it.
A good habit when buying mangos is to check the production area, to buy those grown closer to the consumer. For example, La Axarquía in Spain, where subtropical fruit is cultivated, some varieties of mangos from Spain are produced:
- Mango Osteen, is the most popular and common.
- Mango Palmer is quite easy to find in La Axarquia, but it is also the first variety that can be found when mango season comes, as it has an early harvest.
- Mango Irwin, famous because of taste and texture, this variety of mango is well appreciated by consumers, and it is produced in Spain.
- Mango Kent, con un precio algo más elevado que otras variedades, pero un sabor y una carnosidad únicos.
- Mango Keitt, acid and soft, it is really juicy. The perfect alternative to those who are looking for a mango that is not so sweet.
- Mango Tommy Atkins, another variety of mango to add to the list of tropical fruit with Spanish origins.
There are a lot of varieties of mango, but most of them have been harvested before season to reach further markets and countries. The best way to eat a delicious mango is by choosing those produced nearer, as it is a seasonal product harvested in the right moment so that consumer can eat fresh mango, a piece of fruit aromatic, juicy and plenty of taste.